2019-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS2019 Volume 2: Flink Intl. Symp. / Sustainable Production of Ferro-alloys
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, D. Carey, H. Giray, S. Kolyvanov, J. Svensson |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2019 |
| Pages: | 89 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-989820-01-8 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Environmental Impacts of the Tailing Impoundment of Iron-ore Mine Nižna Slana (Slovakia)
Danica Fazekašová1; Juraj Fazekaš1;1UNIVERSITY OF PRESOV, Prešov, Slovakia;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 232
Topic: 12
Abstract:
The region of North Gemer (Slovakia) is rich in mineral resources which provided good conditions for the development of mining more than 600 years ago. The mining company Siderit in Nižna Slana was one of the most important industrial companies in Gemer w hich dealt with the processing and extraction of iron ore. During operation, the company has emitted solid pollutants to the nearer and farther environment, which are associated with hazardous heavy metals and gaseous emissions of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. The natural dispersion of the pollutants has unfavorable conditions due to the location of the plant in the valley of the river Slana. Mining and metal processing are responsible for the extensive contamination and pollution of soils and water. In particular, old mining works, heaps and sludge basins have become a significant source of surface pollution. The work presents the results of soil research conducted in 2018, 10 years after enclosing the Siderit's operations. The research was carried out at 11 sites which are located in the pollutant field of the tailing impoundment, as well as on the surface of the tailing impoundment. The results showed that, in the soils, there is above-limit content of Hg, As, Ni, Cd, Pb and Fe. The highest measured concentrations exceeded the limit of As by 37.0 times, Hg by 4.0 times, Cd by 2.7 times, Pb by 1.9 times, Ni by 1.4 times and the highest values exceeded the average Fe content up to 6 times compared to limit values set by Act. No. 220/2004 Coll. Based on research results, we can conclude that soils are heavily contaminated with heavy metals, which pose a serious risk to public health, contamination of agricultural production and threats to groundwater and surface waters.