Assessment of the Source of Anthropogenic Pollution Impact on the Hydro-chemical Runoff of the Main Ore Elements (Using the Example of Dumps at the Altai Mining and Processing Plant, Alei Сatchment)

Abstract

The content of the main ore and associated elements in the material of the tailings of the Altai mining and processing plant, in the snow cover and surface waters of the dumps, as well as in the water filtrates of the dump material was studied. It was detected that the concentration of Cu in the substrates of the dumps of the Altai mining and processing plant varies from 970 to 7350 mg/kg and exceeds the background values of the copper content in the soils of Northwestern Altai up to 1000 times, the Pb content varies. from 850 to 2800 mg/kg and exceeds the background value up to 500 times, Zn – up to 200 times (content from 350 to 12170 mg/kg), Cd – up to 100 times. It was recorded that the Pb content in pound surface water on of tailings dumps exceeds the MPC of hazardous substances 2.5 times and is 79 μg/l, Cu – 52 times (52.3 mg/l), Zn – 250 times (254 mg/l), Cd – 940 times (0.94 mg/l). It was identified that in liquid media – lysimetric, surface and snow waters of the Altai mining and processing plant tailings pond – the ratio of pollutant concentrations to background and standards norms (Russian and foreign) is higher for more labile and easily leachable elements – cadmium and zinc. In solid components (substrates, snow dust), the concentrations of copper and lead noticeably exceed the background, clarke and standard concentrations.