Abstract
Water environment in the vicinity of Czarnow (Rudawy Janowickie Mts., Western Sudetes) is characterized by an occurrence of rich variety of trace elements affecting its quality directly. Based on the analyses of chemical composition of waters supported by geochemical modeling using PHREEQC code the significant influence of either natural geological conditions or former and contemporary mining activity has been confirmed. The results of inverse modeling suggest the contribution of carbon dioxide dissolution, pyrite oxidation, carbonates and plagioclases dissolution and ionic exchange between Ca2+ and Na+ as major chemical processes influencing water chemistry evolution. The anomalous concentration of arsenic in several locations as a result of probable desorption from iron oxide–hydroxides under the elevated pH conditions can be observed. The evaluation of changes in waters chemical composition during the past three decades indicates the tendency of their self-purification.
Highlights
The mining activity in the Rudawy Janowickie Mts. range (Western Sudetes) has reached the medieval times
The preceding tendency is confirmed by the measurement of electrolytic conductivity of water ranging from 59 lS/cm in springs to 295 lS/cm in the stream water
The highest value of electrolytic conductivity (EC) measured in groundwater was 378 lS/cm (Table 1)
Summary
The mining activity in the Rudawy Janowickie Mts. range (Western Sudetes) has reached the medieval times. The very first records of mine workings in the area are dated from the thirteenth century and can be considered as one of the oldest in Europe. The earliest stage of exploitation regarded only gold exploration until the middle of the eighteenth century when the ‘Evelinens Gluck’ mine (‘Eveline’s Luck’ mine) was launched and the workings focused on arsenic and copper ores exploitation. At the beginning of the twentieth century the exploitation in Czarnow was conducted on 12 exploitation levels and the production came up to 1000 t of ore annually (Dziekonski 1972). The operation of the ‘Evelinens Gluck’ mine was finished in 1925 considering its unprofitability. The remainings of its former activity in the form of shafts, adits and mine tailings have still a huge impact on the entire environment and play a significant role in the evolution of water chemistry in the study area.
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