Assessing the Impact of an Operating Tailings Storage Facility on Catchment Surface and Groundwater Quality in the Ellembele District of the Western Region of Ghana

E. Acheampong, D. Nukpezah
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of an operating Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of Adamus Resources Limited (Nzema Gold Mine) in the Ellembele District of the Western of Ghana on catchment surface and groundwater quality. Water samples were collected between June and December 2014 from seventeen (17) sampling sites including the TSF decant water (TSF-DW), three (3) streams, a water storage dam, a pond and eleven (11) groundwater monitoring boreholes within 500 m radius of the mine’s Tailings Storage Facility. Samples were analyzed for pH, true colour, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury) and cyanide (weak acid dissociable cyanide (WAD), free cyanide and total cyanide) using standard procedures. The TSF-DW reported elevated arsenic, free cyanide and TSS concentrations above GHEPA guideline for effluent discharge. Elevated TSS and arsenic concentrations above GHEPA limits were reported in PWSD which is a pond uphill of the TSF and a receptor to effluents from illegal mining sites on the mine’s concession. All other parameters recorded in surface and groundwater bodies studied were within WHO guideline limit for potable water. Results of the study suggest that the quality of surface and groundwater around the TSF has not been adversely affected even though the TSF is contaminated. Study findings suggest that well-engineered tailings dam ofARLwith its effective liner and management systems may have provided a safe structure and prevented contamination of water resources within its catchment.
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评估正在运行的尾矿储存设施对加纳西部地区埃伦贝莱区集水区地表和地下水质量的影响
该研究评估了加纳西部Ellembele地区Adamus资源有限公司(Nzema金矿)的尾矿储存设施(TSF)对集水区地表和地下水质量的影响。2014年6月至12月期间,从17个采样点采集了水样,包括TSF倒液水(TSF- dw)、3条溪流、1个蓄水坝、1个池塘和11个地下水监测钻孔,采样点位于该矿尾矿储存设施半径500米范围内。采用标准程序分析样品的pH、真色、电导率(EC)、总溶解固体(TDS)、总悬浮固体(TSS)、生物需氧量(BOD)、溶解金属(砷、镉、铜、汞)和氰化物(弱酸可解离氰化物(WAD)、游离氰化物和总氰化物)。据TSF-DW报告,砷、游离氰化物和TSS浓度升高,超过了GHEPA污水排放准则。据报道,在污水处理厂,TSS和砷的浓度超过了环保标准的限制。该处理厂是污水处理厂上坡的一个池塘,是矿山特许经营范围内非法采矿场废水的受体。所研究的地表水和地下水中记录的所有其他参数均在世卫组织饮用水指导限值之内。研究结果表明,即使污染了TSF,但TSF周围的地表水和地下水的质量并未受到不利影响。研究结果表明,精心设计的arl尾矿坝及其有效的衬砌和管理系统可能提供了一个安全的结构,并防止了其集水区水资源的污染。
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