The Distribution of Antimony and Arsenic in Waters of the Dubrava Abandoned Mine Site, Slovak Republic

摘要

The abandoned Dubrava Mine, situated in the northern part of the Nfzke Tatry Mts in the middle of Slovakia, was the most significant producer of antimony (Sb) in the former Czechoslovakia. Mine drainage from adits (containing up to 9,300 μg/L of Sb), mine waste dumps, and the leachate from mine tailings contribute Sb and arsenic (As) into nearby Paludzanka Creek and groundwater. Some drinking water resources have been closed due to excessive Sb concentrations; the concentration of Sb in one household well (126 μg/L) far exceeds the Sb drinking water limit of 5 μg/L. Although Sb is attenuated by dilution and adsorption on ferric iron in stream sediment in the Paludzanka Creek, Sb concentrations increase downstream of the mine tailings and then remain almost constant, leading to concentrations of 128 μg/L at the northern boundary of the study area. The dissolved As concentrations in the mine drainage are much lower than Sb, ranging from 4 to 62 μg/L. Flow and transport modeling confirmed the observed contamination pattern and the major role of the mine adits. Results of this study indicate serious Sb contamination, which could be mitigated by treatment of the adit discharges.