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Environ Sci Pollut Res (2013) 20:75827589 DOI 10.1007/s11356-013-1740-8
MINING AND THE ENVIRONMENT - UNDERSTANDING PROCESSES, ASSESSING IMPACTS AND DEVELOPING REMEDIATION
Impact of ZnPb mining in the Olkusz ore district on the Permian aquifer (SW Poland)
Jacek Motyka & Adam Postawa
Received: 4 January 2013 /Accepted: 15 April 2013 /Published online: 1 May 2013 # The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Abstract Long-term extensive mining of ZnPb ores in the Olkusz area resulted in significant changes of water table levels and chemical composition of water in all aquifers in this area. Within the Permian aquifer, hydrochemical type of water evolved in two general stages. Short-term effect was freshening in the zones of contact with overlying the Triassic limestones and dolomites. Long-term effect was a change in flow pattern and, as a consequence, an inflow of naturally altered and antropogenically contaminated water from the Triassic aquifer into the Permian complex. This was especially intensive in densely fissured and fault zones. As a result of all these processes, hydrochemical type of water shifted from multi-ion types with various combinations of ions towards higher shares of sulphates, calcium and magnesium.
Keywords ZnPb ore mining . Groundwater chemistry evolution . Mining drainage . Olkusz
Introduction
Underground mining usually requires dewatering of excavations during accessing stage and very often also during exploitation stage. Mining drainage can cause significant changes in water table and chemical composition of water within aquifers surrounding the mining area.
The history of the mining of metals in Olkusz region reaches back to neolith. It is confirmed by documents from the twelfth century. At first, Pbore containing silver was extracted from the Triassic deposits located above the groundwater level. After depletion of the ore deposits located in the aeration zone, dewatering of the Triassic rocks became necessary so that exploitation could reach deeper. In the seventeenth century, a number of adits were excavated in order to drain water from ore-bearing rocks. That caused decrease in the water table by 30 m in surrounding areas. This period is considered as the beginning of mining drainage in the Olkusz area. However, intensive mining drainage of the Triassic aquifer dates back to half of the twentieth century. At this time, the Bolesaw Mine, which was...