Testing of the permeable Fe0-Barrier at dumpField Podlipa (Lubietova Cu-Deposit, Slovakia)

Abstract

The Podlipa dump-field material at Lubietova abandoned Cu-deposit show high Cu, Fe, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni and Pb contents. In most cases higher metal contents were described in winter dry period as in the rainy periods. The oposite situation was very rare. The depression under the Empfangnis dump is saturated by several outflows of drainage water percolating through the dump material. For the most part it is a case of surface water of a mountain stream draining the area along the valley. In the area under the Podlipa dump field, the brook several times percolate the dump sediments. In the points of outflow of drainage water from the dumps on the surface, secondary minerals of copper (pseudomalachite?) deposit preferentially on dead plant residues. Moreover, on the bottom of the pool in the depression under the dump of Empfangnis gallery, a continuous green coat of Cu carbonates can be seen. The bottom sediment contains up to 2.15 wt.% of Fe, 15 402 ppm of Cu, 134 ppm of Pb and 220 ppm of As. The results show a significant contamination of water as a consequence of percolation through the dump sediments - above all contamination with Cu, Ni, Pb and Sb, and an increase in the contents of majority of the heavy metals in the dry season. Fe-0-barrier seems to be relatively efficient for Fe and As removal and vice versa removal of Zn and S is limited. Cd, Pb and P contents are very low so the results are not unambiguous. The relation between pH/Eh ratio and of the efficiency of Fe-0-barrier could not be with respect to the low values proved.