Geochemistry of surface waters in the vicinity of open pit mines at the Cay Cham deposit, Thai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam

This study provides an assessment of the environmental impact of open pit mining operations at the Cay Cham titanomagnetite-ilmenite deposit (northern Vietnam). The results of surface water sampling indicate the formation of acid mine drainage and contamination of adjacent areas by heavy metals (Cu,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geochemistry international 2013-11, Vol.51 (11), p.931-938
Main Authors: Xuan, Pham Tich, Van Pho, Nguyen, Gas’kova, O. L., Bortnikova, S. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid mine drainage
Acidity
Copper
Deposits
Drainage water
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental assessment
Environmental impact
Geochemistry
Heavy metals
Leaching
Mineralization
Mines
Natural waters
Neutralization
Open pit mining
Oxidation
Rainforests
Rainy season
Surface water
Vietnam
Water analysis
Water sampling
Wet season
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Summary:This study provides an assessment of the environmental impact of open pit mining operations at the Cay Cham titanomagnetite-ilmenite deposit (northern Vietnam). The results of surface water sampling indicate the formation of acid mine drainage and contamination of adjacent areas by heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Mn). The acid mine drainage is produced by oxidation leaching of sulfide minerals associated with primary mineralization owing to the low neutralization potential of the natural waters in the humid environment of tropical rainforest. The study showed that alternating dry and wet seasons typical of this climatic region promote the generation of stored acidity leading to a sharp decrease in pH of drainage water during the wet season and result in the negative impacts of this mine on both flowing and stagnant surface waters.
ISSN:0016-7029
1556-1968
DOI:10.1134/S0016702913110062