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Characteristics of Wastewater Streams Within the Bor Copper Mine and Their Influence on Pollution of the Timok River, Serbia

Die Charakteristik von Abwasserströmen aus der Bor-Kupfer-Gewinnung und deren Einfluss auf die Verschmutzung im Timok Fluss, Serbien

Características de los cursos de agua dentro de la mina de cobre Bor y sus influencias sobre la contaminación del Río Timok, Serbia

塞尔维亚博尔铜矿(Bor Copper Mine)污水溪及其对蒂莫克河(Timok River)的污染

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Abstract

Wastewaters produced by mining and metallurgical treatment of polymetallic sulfide ores have polluted the Timok River in Serbia for more than 100 years. We have characterized seven different wastewater streams within the RTB Bor facilities, investigating their influence on pollution of the Timok River before its confluence with the Danube River. Their relative contribution was calculated by considering the contaminant load of each wastewater stream and non-conservative transport along their flow paths. Three sampling spots in the Timok River, before and after its confluence with the Borska River, were also monitored.

Zusammenfassung

Abwässer aus der Gewinnung und Verhüttung polymetallischer Sulfiderze belasten das Timok-Fließsystem in Serbien seit mehr als 100 Jahren. Wir haben sieben verschiedene Abwasserströme innerhalb der RTB Bor-Anlagen charakterisiert und deren Einfluss auf die Kontamination des Flusses Timok vor seiner Mündung in die Donau untersucht. Der relative Anteil der einzelnen Abwässerströme entlang des Fließpfades wurde durch Frachtbetrachtungen jedes Abwasserteilstromes und einer nicht-konservativen Transportberechnung bestimmt. Drei Probeentnahmestellen im Timok-Fluss vor und nach dem Zufluss des Borska Flusses wurden zusätzlich beobachtet.

Resumen

Las aguas residuales producidas por la explotación minera y el tratamiento metalúrgico de minerales sulfurados polimetálicos, ha contaminado el Río Timok en Serbia por más de 100 años. Hemos caracterizado siete diferentes cursos de aguas residuales dentro de las instalaciones de RTB Bor, investigando sus influencias sobre la contaminación del Río Timok antes de su confluencia con el Río Danubio. Sus contribuciones relativas fueron calculadas considerando la carga de contaminante de cada curso de agua y el transporte no conservativo a lo largo de su curso. También se monitorearon muestras en el Río Timok, antes y después de su confluencia con el Río Borska.

摘要

多金属硫化物采矿及冶炼废水已经污染塞尔维亚(Serbia)蒂莫克河(Timok River)100多年。描述了RTB Bor铜矿区内七条污水溪的特征,研究了它们汇入丹纽博河(Danube River)前对蒂莫克河(Timok River)潜在污染。通过分析每条污水溪的污染荷载及沿程非保留运移计算了它们对蒂莫克河(Timok River)污染的贡献。同时,在蒂莫克河(Timok River)汇入博斯卡河(Borska River)前后,亦设立了三个取样监测点。

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, under Projects III46010, TR 33038, and OI172037, is acknowledged. We thank Professor Mara Manzalović from the faculty in Bor (University of Belgrade) for providing language help.

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Correspondence to D. Živković.

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Šerbula, S., Stanković, V., Živković, D. et al. Characteristics of Wastewater Streams Within the Bor Copper Mine and Their Influence on Pollution of the Timok River, Serbia. Mine Water Environ 35, 480–485 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-016-0392-6

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