Influence of the mining of sulfur-polymetallic deposits on the water environment-A case study of the mineral exploitationin the Datian area, Fujian

The mining, beneficiation and smelting of ore deposits in the Datian area, western Fujian, have caused serious destruction in water and soil ecosystems. The pH and SO42-concentrations in waste water of mining and beneficiation by far exceed the standards of the water environment. The Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd contents in the waste water of mining and beneficiation and in river waters that receive the waste water of mining and beneficiation mostly exceed the standards of category 5 water on the ground surface and in a few cases exceed the standards of category 4 water. The waste water of mining and beneficiation in the ore district is an important source of metal pollutants that pollute surface water. The pH values of the waste water of the mineral industry have a distinct negative correlation with the contents of the Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd metals. The variation in SO42-concentration is relatively consistent with that in the ion concentrations of the metals Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd. The authors propose that to control the pollution of the environment of sulfur-polymetallic mines we should adhere to the principles of suiting measures to local conditions and carrying out mineral resources development and environmental protection simultaneously, and that it is advisable to use limestone to neutralize acid waste water, separate and cover tailing piles, plant trees and grow grass in abandoned mines and make ecological rehabilitation, return productive mines that have low benefits to forest, close down mines that cause serious pollution to the environment and make scientific planning of new producing mines.