Transformation of the acid mine drainage composition of the Sibay chalcopyrite deposit on the geochemical barriers of the river system

摘要

This article focuses on the study of the Sibay copper-zinc deposit (South Urals) acid mine and dump drainage and on its transformation in the Karagaily river system. The runoff of the river is initially formed by underground water, dump drainage and mine drainage. The hydrochemical composition of water and the content of ore metals in bottom sediments have been examined. Special attention has been paid to the phase distribution of metals, which provides information about the forms and intensity of element mobilization into the solid phase. The effect of anthropogenic and natural geochemical barriers on the river self-purification ability has been estimated. It has been shown that the formation of a new artificial geochemical barrier in the river, caused by the discharge of alkaline waters from the treatment facilities, substantially increased the self-purification ability of the watercourse. This led to the fact, that the quality of river water in the lower course almost reached normative indicators.