Abstract
ABSTRACT The major ion and stable isotope geochemistry of coalmine water of Talcher coalfield was investigated to identify prominent hydrogeochemical processes controlling mine water composition and estimate annual elemental flux. Mine water samples from opencast and underground coalmines were analysed for EC, pH, TDS, TH, major ions and stable isotopes i.e. δ18O and δ2H. Coalmine water exhibited a wide range of pH values, from highly acidic to alkaline, and were dominated by SO4 2− and Ca2+ in their total anionic (TZ−) and cationic (TZ+) composition respectively. Ca-Mg-SO4 was the most dominant hydrochemical facies. High contribution of Ca2+and Mg2+ and SO4 2− towards the TZ+ and TZ− and low HCO3 −/(HCO3 −+SO4 2−) ratio suggested a major role of sulphide oxidation in determining coalmine water chemistry. A slight deviation in the regression line towards right side of the Global Meteoric Water Line and Local Meteoric Water Line in the bivariate plot of δ18O vs δ2H implied that water experienced evaporation to some extent and originated mainly from atmospheric precipitation. Most of the mine water were undersaturated with respect to carbonate and sulphide phases. Talcher coal mines annually delivered 47.06 × 106 m3 mine water and 28.481 × 103 tonnes of solute loads into nearby drainage.
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