STREAM SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION FROM AREAS AFECTED BY SB MINING IN SLOVAKIA

9th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2009, www.sgem.org, SGEM2009 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 14-19, 2009, Vol. 2, 603-606 pp

ABSTRACT

Sb-mineralization had been exploited in many localities in Slovakia. Contamination of
environment by Sb, As and other heavy metals is specific problem of Slovak mining
regions. Three localities Poproc (in eastern part of Slovakia), Medzibrod and Dubrava
(in The Low Tatras) are abandoned mining areas where the stibnite ores had been
exploited for many years. These areas represent high potential environmental risk
because of transport and accumulation of contamination in different parts of
environment (waters, stream sediments, soil). Abandoned galleries and tailings
impoundments material with high concentration of toxic elements (especially As and
Sb) occurs on the both localities. High contamination of waters, soils and stream
sediment in Poproc had been detected during previous study.

Sampling point of stream sediments represented natural background, the sources of
contamination as well as whole creeks to the confluence with bigger water recipient.
The samples had been transported, dried by atmospheric temperature and netting to the
fraction below 1 mm. The pH (in water and in 1M KCL) and conductivity was
determined in all samples. Five representative samples from each locality was chosen
for total chemical analysis and for sequence analyses. For sequence analyses was used
simplified 3-step BRC analyse with focus to determinate bioavailability of some
contaminates presented in stream sediment samples.

Keywords: stibnite, stream sediments, sequence analyses, contamination