Heavy Metal Mobility at Interaction of the Sulphide Tailings and Environmental Components

Abstract

Geochemical, hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical investigation of the Salair ore field (Kemerovo region, South-West Siberia) has revealed serious environmental contamination by technogenic objects such as quarries, tailings impoundments, recovery plants. Among others, anomalies of the heavy metals (Pb, Zn, and Cd) can be observed as well around the preserved Djukov tailing impoundment. It contains wastes of floto-cyanidation mineral processing of gold-polimetallic oxidized ores. The tailings impoundment is located in a natural valley, its resource is 1.5 mln. tons, size is 100x300 m. There are two shallow ponds at the northern and southern parts of the impoundment and there is a small settler under the tailings dam. Drainage streams from northern and southern ponds flow into the settler. The geomorphologic position of the tailings determines two main mechanisms of solution migration: (i) filtration along a water impermeable layer downward the slope of the valley, (ii) infiltration through penetration into soil capillary pores. The first mechanism controls metal saturation of drainage water; the second one controls their separation in the A-soil horizon, where sorption by soil and vegetation takes place. Based on the processes described above for the Djukov tailings, the studied area was schematically separated into 3 parts: northern pond and area under its influence, southern pond area, and settler. Results and discussion