2. ENVIRONMENTAL ChEMISTRy & TEChNOLOGy 2.1. Lectures

Chem. Listy, 102, s265–s1311 (2008) Environmental Chemistry & Technology
Fig. 1. Schematic map of investigated area
Table I
Selected chemical parameters of soil samples from surrounding
of Sb deposit Poproč [mg kg –1 ]. Fe, Mn, Al, SO4
expressed in %
Adit Adit Adit Adit Im- Im
Adit pound-
Filip- Agnes Agnes Agnes pound-
Filip
subs OU OA1 OA2 ment ment
(cover)
As 72 298 11,060 26,380 56,900 1,898 2,800
Sb 3,270 86,230 9,254 4,697 9,993 4,747 4,190
Pb 274 1723 25 < 5 < 5 351 352
Zn 122 352 135 1,655 3,272 71 60
Cu 54 155 48 34 52 15 13
Fe 4.23 4.29 17 30.8 35.6 0.92 5.67
Mn 0.174 0.106 0.262 0.073 0.02 < 0.001 0.002
Al 7.97 6.92 4.73 1.44 0.07 5.06 3.38
SO 4 0.13 0.11 0.14 0.27 0.24 0.27 1.97
Fe, Mn oxides and pH 18 , their biosorption into organisms or
biovolatilization in organisms 19,20 is important. Plant tissues
were sampled in the area of interest and high concentrations
s381
of As and Sb were detected in selected plant species. near
the Agnes adit, the maximum As and Sb values of plant tissue
were, respectively, 45.8 mg kg –1 and 1.9 mg kg –1 (dry
weight).
Table II
Ochre samples chemical analyses (mg.kg-1)
Chemical Spring 300 m nW Adit
parameter from adit Agnes Agnes
Fe 106,000 336,000
As 8,600 34,000
Sb 5,200 6,100
Pb 104 97
Zn 160 831
Cu 44 0
Mn 1,580 210
Hg 0.4 1
Cd 0 12
na 8,540 1,360
K 1,720 420
Ca 10,600 2,460
Mg 6,070 830
Al 7,660 2,560
S 23,300 5,950
Conclusions
The results of preliminary mineralogical and geochemical
sampling near the abandoned Poproč Sb deposit reveal
significant contamination of the surrounding environment.
The most important toxic elements in the study area are As
and Sb. High concentration levels measured in adit estuaries
could be caused by inadequate mine closure/rehabilitation.
Deposition of highly contaminated ochre precipitates near the
Agnes adit and outflow are indicative of contaminated mine
waters; inadequate recultivation has caused ochre precipitates
(containing As and Sb) to be resuspended and to flow into the
Olšava river catchment. The next step should be research into
geochemical and mineralogical mobility and the bioavailability
of the main contaminants in the environmental media.
This work has been supported by the Slovak Research
and Development Agency under contract No. APVV-0268-
06.
REFEREnCES
1. Chovan M., Háber M., Jeleň S., Rojkovič I.: Ore textures
in the Western Carpathians. Slovak Academic Press,
Bratislava 1994.
2. Miner. Slov. 35, 131 (2003). (in Slovak)
3. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic: Risk contamination
assessment of surroundings of Sb, Au and
sulphide deposit in Pezinok and proposition for remediation:
toxicity of As and Sb, acidification, AV/901/2002
(VTP25) (2006 ME SR). (in Slovak)