Effects of mine drainage on the river hayle, cornwall a) factors affecting concentrations of copper, zinc and iron in water, sediments and dominant invertebrate fauna

Abstract

Concentrations of copper, zinc and iron were measured in waters, sediments and invertebrates collected from the River Hayle. In river water at least 70% of copper and iron was associated with the ‘particulate’ fraction whereas 80% of zinc was in the ‘soluble’ form. Although total concentrations of zinc in water exceeded those of copper approximately ten fold, copper predominated over zinc in the sediments by a factor of approximately three. Iron was the most abundant metal recorded in both water and sediments.