Forms of transfer of microelements in river network and their distribution in bottom sediments in coal mining regions

Underground coal mining often produces acid water with high content of microelements. In closure of coal mines using flooding, after recovery of groundwater level, acid mine water can flow out on ground surface. Such water enters a river network and gets neutralized, and sediments of metal hydroxides settle and accumulate many microelements. The studies were carried out at the Kosva River, Western Ural, Russia, which intakes acid water from eight outlets in the Kizel Coal Basin, having sulfate ferruginous–calcium composition and high mineralization. The research objectives were calculation of manmade suspended matter size and spread from them chemical analysis of water, determination of transfer mechanisms of microelements in river water, and identification of distribution of microelements in the water–bottom sediment system and per chemical fractions of bottom sediments by ICP-MS analysis of water and bottom sediment extracts. Microelements mostly transfer in dissolved and colloidal forms. The highest content of microelements in bottom sediments is observed in the fraction of consolidated organic matter, oxides and sulfides and in the fraction of solid residual compound. With respect to the rate of mobility in the water–bottom sediment system, microelements range as follows: Mn > Co > Ni > Zn ≈ Mn > Li > Cu > Al ≈ Cr. The manmade sediments accumulated on river bed are the source of the secondary water pollution with microelements in the changing environment.

Maksimovich N. G., Khmurchik V. Т., Berezina О. А. Forms of transfer of microelements in river network and their distribution in bottom sediments in coal mining regions. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2022;(11):52-66. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_11_0_52.

The studies were supported by the Perm Research and Education Center for Rational Subsoil Management, 2021.

N.G. Maksimovich¹, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Assistant Professor, Honored Ecologist of Russian Federation, Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Institute of Natural Science, e-mail: nmax@psu.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6220-2730,
V.T. Khmurchik¹, Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Leading Researcher, Institute of Natural Science, e-mail: khmurchik.vadim@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7629-6168,
O.A. Berezina¹, Cand. Sci. (Geogr.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: berezina.olga16@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6491-0722,
¹ Perm State National Research University, 614068, Perm, Russia.

O.A. Berezina, e-mail: berezina.olga16@gmail.com.

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