Caracterización hidrodinámica e hidroquímica del drenaje ácido de una escombrera minera (Faja Pirítica Ibérica, España)
- Damián Sánchez García 1
- Bartolomé Andreo Navarro 1
- Xavier Bernat Camí 2
- Manuel Olías Álvarez 3
- Francisco Macías Suárez 3
- Gustavo Calero Díaz 4
- Marina Arnaldos Orts 2
- 1 Cetaqua Andalucía, España
- 2 Cetaqua Barcelona, España
- 3 Universidad de Huelva, España
- 4 Hidralia, Gestión Integral de Aguas de Andalucía, España
ISSN: 0213-683X
Year of publication: 2018
Issue Title: Comunicaciones presentadas en la LXIV Sesión Científica / Ávila, 1 de Junio de 2018
Issue: 64
Pages: 139-142
Type: Article
More publications in: Geogaceta
Abstract
A long history of metalliferous mining has left the Iberian Pyrite Belt sulphide province with a legacy of numerous and enormous sulphide-bearing waste rock piles and tailings. Rainwater infiltrates and circulates through the waste rocks. These waters flow out of the mine dumps transformed into acid mine drainages (AMD). This work presents a preliminary hydrochemical and hydrodynamic characterization of AMD using an abandoned waste rock pile located in the central area of the Huelva province (SW Spain) as pilot site. Results show variable (0.1-12.2 L/s) and rainfall-dependent discharge flows which respond quite rapidly to precipitations. During the dry season discharge flows are progressively lower. Recharge produced by the infiltration of rainwater provokes, in general, the drainage of more mineralized waters mainly due to increased contents of SO4, Fe, Al and Mg. Water pH has been low (2.4-2.6), with no evident relationship with recharge. Redox potential has shown oxidizing conditions in all samples along the monitoring period.