Abstract
Heavy metal contents have been investigated in sediment and water samples from gold and platinum mining areas of South Africa. Waste waters from Witwatersrand and Orange Free State gold mines exhibit characteristically low pH-values due to the formation of sulphuric acid by oxidation of sulphide ore minerals. Acid leaching of iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper and zinc effects a 1,000–10,000-fold increase of metal concentrations as compared to the respective values in unpolluted river water. Lack of carbonate buffering prevents rapid immobilization and may lead to widespread distribution of toxic metals in the aquatic systems. These findings illustrate that modern ore refining techniques have little effect on the water quality as long as unchecked hydrometallurgical processes take place outside the production plant.
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