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Hydrochemistry of superficial waters in the Adoria mine area (Northern Portugal): environmental implications

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Abstract

The purpose of this work is to characterize the hydrochemical behavior of acid mine drainages (AMD) and superficial waters from the Adoria mine area (Northern Portugal). Samples of superficial and mine drainage water were collected for one year, bi-monthly, with pH, temperature, Eh, conductivity and HCO3 determined in situ with chemical analyses of SO4, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cl, Ag, As, Bi, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd. In the mine, there are acidic waters, with low pH and significant concentrations of SO4, and metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Ni), while in the superficial natural stream waters outside the mine, the pH is close to neutral, with low conductivity and lower metal concentrations. The stream waters inside the mine influence are intermediate in composition between AMD and natural stream waters outside the mine influence. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows a clear separation between AMD galleries and AMD tailings, with tailings having a greater level of contamination.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the instrumental support of the Geosciences Centre at Coimbra University and financial support from FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) presented as a PhD Fellowship to P.J.C. Favas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Apartado 1013, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Paulo J. C. Favas & M. Elisa P. Gomes

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Pratas

  3. Geosciences Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Paulo J. C. Favas, João Pratas & M. Elisa P. Gomes

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  1. Paulo J. C. Favas
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  2. João Pratas
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  3. M. Elisa P. Gomes
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Correspondence to Paulo J. C. Favas.

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Favas, P.J.C., Pratas, J. & Gomes, M.E.P. Hydrochemistry of superficial waters in the Adoria mine area (Northern Portugal): environmental implications. Environ Earth Sci 65, 363–372 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1097-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1097-6

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