Abstract
The formerly highly acidic pit Lake Bockwitz south of Leipzig (Germany) has been repeatedly treated since 2004 with soda ash to meet water quality criteria for the lake effluent. Intense monitoring of water quality parameters showed that previous predictions underestimated the acid load into the lake. Field research and lab experiments were designed to identify and quantify the processes responsible for re-acidification. Monitoring data and key parameters from intermittent-flow column experiments were integrated in hydrogeochemical and physical transport models. The combined lake budget model indicated that re-acidification was dominated by leaching of acidic sulfide mineral weathering products from the Tertiary bank substrates. High inputs of iron, aluminum, and sulfate were generated by infiltrating rain water, interflow, and groundwater recharge. In contrast, acid loads from surface runoff and soil erosion were minor at this particular site. Based on this work, a methodology is proposed to obtain critical parameters from field and lab investigations and integrate those into hydrogeochemical and physical transport models. These process-based models offer tools to reliably predict the water quality of mining pit lakes, develop appropriate treatment measures for the rehabilitation period, and plan the requirements for cost-effective lake water conditioning.
Zusammenfassung
Der vormals extrem saure Tagebaurestsee Bockwitz südlich von Leipzig (Deutschland) wurde seit 2004 wiederholt mit Natriumkarbonat behandelt mit dem Ziel, die für den Seeabfluss relevanten Wassergütekriterien sicher zu stellen. Basierend auf einem aufwendigen Wassergütemonitoring zeigte sich, dass die dem See zutretende Säurelast in den bisherigen Prognosen unterschätzt worden war. Um die für die Wiederversauerung des Tagebausees verantwortlichen Prozesse zu identifizieren und zu quantifizieren wurden Felduntersuchungen und Laborexperimente konzipiert. Monitoringdaten sowie aus diskontinuierlichen Säulenversuchen abgeleitete Schlüsselparameter wurden in hydrogeochemische und physikalische Transportmodelle integriert. Das komplexe Seehaushaltsmodell gab Hinweis darauf, dass die Wiederversauerung dominiert war durch den Eintrag von sauren Sulfidverwitterungsprodukten aus den tertiären Kippensubstraten. Starke Einträge von Eisen, Aluminium und Sulfat wurden hervorgerufen durch Niederschlagsinfiltration, Zwischenabfluss und Grundwasserneubildung. Dagegen waren die durch Oberflächenabfluss und Bodenerosion hervorgerufenen Säurelasten gering. Diese Arbeit schlägt auf Basis der Feld- und Laboruntersuchungen eine Methodik zur Ableitung entscheidender Prozessparameter vor, um diese für hydrogeochemische und physikalische Transportmodelle bereitzustellen. Diese prozessbasierten Modelle verfügen über Werkzeuge zur verlässlichen Vorhersage der Wasserqualität von Bergbaurestseen, zur Entwicklung von Behandlungsmaßnahmen in der Sanierungsphase sowie zur Planung der Voraussetzungen für eine kosteneffiziente Seewasserkonditionierung.
Resumen
El originalmente fuertemente ácido lago de pit Bockwitz al sur de Leipzig (Alemania) ha sido repetidamente tratado desde 2004 con carbonato de sodio para alcanzar el criterio de cualidad para lago de efluentes. El monitoreo de los parámetros de calidad del agua mostró que las predicciones previas subestimaron la carga ácida dentro del lago. Experimentos de laboratorio y trabajos de campos fueron diseñados para identificar y cuantificar los procesos responsables de la re-acidificación. Los datos del monitoreo y los parámetros relevantes de experimentos realizados en columnas de flujo intermitente fueron integrados en modelos hidrogeoquímicos y de transporte físico. El modelo indicó que la re-acidificación fue dominada por la lixiviación de productos de meterorización de minerales sulfurados. Altos niveles de entrada de hierro, aluminio y sulfato fueron generados por la infiltración de agua de lluvia, interflujo y recarga de agua subterránea. Por el contrario, las cargas ácidas por infiltraciones superficiales y erosión de suelo fueron menores en este sitio particular. Basándose en este trabajo, se propone una metodología para obtener los parámetros críticos desde el campo y desde investigaciones de laboratorio e integrarlas en modelos hidrogeoquímicos y de transporte físico. Estos modelos ofrecen herramientas para predecir adecuadamente la calidad del agua en lagos de pit mineros, desarrollar medidas de tratamiento apropiadas para el período de rehabilitación y planear los requerimientos para el acondicionamiento a costo adecuado del agua del lago.
抽象
为使德国莱比锡(Leipzig)南部Bockwitz矿坑湖高度酸性湖水达到排泄水质标准,该湖水自2004年以来已进行多次原位苏打中和处理。大量水质质测结果表明,以往的预测低估了进入湖水的酸性荷载。研究通过系列野外监测及室内试验识别和量化矿坑湖水的“再酸化re-acidification”过程。间歇式柱体淋溶试验数据及试验参数被引入水文地球化学及物质运移模型。湖水物质平衡模型计算结果表明,湖水再酸化过程主要受湖岸第三系基底硫化物酸性风化产物控制;同时,雨水渗入、壤中流排泄和地下水补给向矿坑湖输入大量铁、铝和硫酸盐,而地表径流及水土流失使湖水酸性荷载变化的作用较小。在上述研究基础上,提出由野外监测和室内试验获得关键参数并引入水文地球化学和物质运移模型的方法。该基于过程控制的模型有助于可靠预测矿坑湖水水质,合理选择湖水修复方法和有效规划湖水水质控制方案。
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Acknowledgments
This paper is dedicated to Karl-Heinz Pokrandt on the occasion of his retirement from the LMBV mbH; we acknowledge his commitment, persistent cooperation, and helpful support on many projects. The authors are indebted to all associates of the Lausitz and Central-German Mining Admin Company involved in this research. Special thanks are due to Eckhard Scholz, head of the Geotechnics department. We thank Bob Kleinmann and four anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions on an earlier draft, and Thomas Voltz for linguistic improvements.
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Ulrich, KU., Bethge, C., Guderitz, I. et al. In-Lake Neutralization: Quantification and Prognoses of the Acid Load into a Conditioned Pit Lake (Lake Bockwitz, Central Germany). Mine Water Environ 31, 320–338 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0206-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0206-4