Origin and Geochemistry of Mine Water and its Impact on the Groundwater and Surface Running Water in Post-mining Environments: Zlatna Gold Mining Area (Romania)

Abstract

In application at the Zlatna gold mining area (Apuseni Mountains, Romania), the correlation of water isotopes and geochemical data were successfully used to assess the genetic relationships between surface running water, groundwater and mine water, as well as to evaluate the mining effects on the surrounding environment after the cessation of mining operations. The majority of mine water sources display pH values between 4 and 5, i.e. acid mine water. The mine water characterized by slightly higher pH values (~6) interacts with ophiolitic rocks which have high pH buffering capacity. The neutral mine water (pH ~ 7) does not come into direct contact with reactive minerals, either because it is discharged from an exploration adit or because of the complete leaching of pyrite and other sulphides in old abandoned mining works. The later also shows low levels of heavy metals concentrations. Calcium is the dominant cation in mine water and in the majority of surface running water and groundwater sources, indicating the same mechanisms of mineralization. All mine water sources are $$\text{SO}_{4}^{2 - }$$ type and show very high $$\text{SO}_{4}^{2 - }$$ concentrations (6539 mg/l mean value). Surface and groundwater sources are classified either as $$\text{SO}_{4}^{2 - }$$ or as $$\text{HCO}_{3}^{ - }$$ type water. Linear correlation between δD and δ18O values indicates that all water sources belong to the meteoric cycle. Low δD and δ18O values of mine water (δD < −70‰; δ18O < −10‰) suggest snow melt and high-altitude precipitations as the main source of recharge. The mine water is less affected by the seasonal variation of temperature. In most cases, the variations in isotopic composition are within narrow limits (less than 1‰ for both δD and δ18O), and this result suggests well-mixed underground systems. Elevated concentration of sulphates, Zn and Fe in mine waters are the main issues of concern. For the study area, no relevant contamination of springs or phreatic water by mine water was revealed. On the contrary, surface running water is contaminated by mine water, and the negative effects of acid mine drainage occur mainly in the summer months when the flow of the surface running water decreases.