Ocena Właściwości Technogenicznych Utworów Glebowych Technosols Zawierających Siarczki Żelaza / Assessment of Properties of Technogenic Soils Technosols Containing Iron Sulfides

Abstract Technogenic soils (Technosols) developed from mine tailings containing iron sulfides occurring in the area of the abandoned .Siersza. hard coal mine in Trzebinia and the abandoned .Staszic. pyrite mine in Rudki were investigated in order to assess their properties. The study revealed that the most adverse properties of the technogenic soils investigated are: strong acidity (pH below 3), the presence of large amounts of rock fragments containing unweathered sulfides, as well as the occurrence of heavy metals (e.g. Pb, As, and Tl) and radioactive elements (U and Th). All these properties should be taken into account during management of the studied mine tailings.

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Leaching of selected metals from a landfill of the closed down Siersza coal mine in Trzebinia (S Poland)

Ochrona Srodowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych ◽

10.1515/oszn-2016-0014 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 32-37

Author(s):

Alicja Kicińska ◽

Beata Kosa

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Hard Coal ◽

Distilled Water ◽

Environmental Standards ◽

Solid Samples ◽

X Ray ◽

Environmental Threat ◽

Aas Method ◽

S Poland

Abstract Landfills of waste generated by coal mining could pose a serious environmental threat if not properly reclaimed. The study focuses on leaching select heavy metals from the waste disposed of by the closed down Siersza hard coal mine in Trzebinia (Silesian- Cracow area). The solid waste samples were analysed with the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method for Zn, Pb, Cd, Mn and Fe contents. The eluates were obtained by leaching the solid samples with distilled water at the ratio 1:10 and analysed with the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. The most prone for leaching were Mn and Zn (78 and 73% of the total contents), the medium prone Pb and Cd (around 50% each), and the least prone Fe (30%). In the western part of the landfill, zinc occurs in unexpectedly high amounts (0.64-3.3 wt.%), which may be related to the presence of slag of unknown provenience. The concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd (averages in mg∙kg−1: 6727, 2.3 and 10.3, respectively) in the leachates exceed the limits of Polish environmental standards. The landfill should be properly monitored and fully reclaimed.

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A Multidisciplinary Approach for the Assessment of Origin, Fate and Ecotoxicity of Metal(loid)s from Legacy Coal Mine Tailings

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics9070164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 164

Author(s):

Honorine Gauthier-Manuel ◽

Diane Radola ◽

Flavien Choulet ◽

Martine Buatier ◽

Raphaël Vauthier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coal Mine ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Mineral Resources ◽

Subcellular Fractionation ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Biological Responses ◽

Receiving Waters ◽

Coal Tailings ◽

Produce Acid

Over the course of history, the development of human societies implied the exploitation of mineral resources which generated huge amounts of mining wastes leading to substantial environmental contamination by various metal(loid)s. This is especially the case of coal mine tailings which, subjected to weathering reactions, produce acid mine drainage (AMD), a recurring ecological issue related to current and past mining activities. In this study, we aimed to determine the origin, the fate and the ecotoxicity of metal(loid)s leached from a historical coal tailing heap to the Beuveroux river (Franche-Comté, France) using a combination of mineralogical, chemical and biological approaches. In the constitutive materials of the tailings, we identified galena, tetrahedrite and bournonite as metal-rich minerals and their weathering has led to massive contamination of the water and suspended particles of the river bordering the heap. The ecotoxicity of the AMD has been assessed using Chironomus riparius larvae encaged in the field during a one-month biomonitoring campaign. The larvae showed lethal and sub-lethal (growth and emergence inhibition and delay) impairments at the AMD tributary and near downstream stations. Metal bioaccumulation and subcellular fractionation in the larvae tissues revealed a strong bioavailability of, notably, As, Pb and Tl explaining the observed biological responses. Thus, more than 70 years after the end of mining operations, the coal tailings remain a chronic source of contamination and environmental risks in AMD effluent receiving waters.

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