Origin of sulfates in the post-mining lakes in the eastern part of Muskau Arch (Polish-German borderland)

Authors

  • Krzysztof Mariusz Labus Institute for Applied Geology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland
  • Sylwia Skoczyńska-Gajda Institute for Applied Geology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1110

Keywords:

acid mine drainage, post-mining lakes, stable isotope analyis, Muskau Arch

Abstract

Exploitation of lignites, carried out within glaciotectonic structures of  Muskau Arch, led to formation of numerous post-minng lakes impacted by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). . The isotopic analyses decribed in this paper allowed for  identification of sources of the dissolved sulphates in the waters of two representative lakes. One of the sources of sulfur isotopes could be oxidation of sulphides (supplied in debris sliding from the slopes of waste dumps, which are surrounding the lakes) in the water column. The fraction of oxygen from water in forming the sulphates vary from about 5% to 25% in the first lake, while in the second  it falls within the range 25%-85%. The research confirmed that the main source of sulfates in the lakes is the oxidation of pyrite.

Author Biographies

Krzysztof Mariusz Labus, Institute for Applied Geology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland

  

Sylwia Skoczyńska-Gajda, Institute for Applied Geology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland

  

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Published

2013-07-01

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Short communication

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