ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Study of Environmental Risks
at an Old Spoil Dump Field
Peter Andráš1, 2, Iveta Nagyová1, Dagmar Samešová3, Zuzana Melichová1
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1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
2Geological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ďumbierska 1, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
3Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen,
T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(6):1529-1538
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This environmental case study presents the results of a risk assessment at the deposit in Lubietova,
Slovakia. The risks of heavy metals in the studied location are mainly influenced by acid mine drainage
(AMD) and natural sorbents presented, i.e. clay minerals (illite, muscovite, smectite, kaolinite, and chlorite),
which were identified by x-ray diffraction analysis and create a natural geochemical barrier against their
release into ground and surface water. Calculations of the potential for AMD formation show the minimum
risks of a dump field to the environment. Seasonal monitoring of ground and surface water contamination by
heavy metals and by other inorganic anions (Cl¯, SO4
2-, NO3¯, NO2¯, PO4
3-) during March 2008-March 2010
proved the aforementioned facts. Content of Cu in drainage and surface water was increased at the
Lubietova-Podlipa deposit. The connection with saturation of natural sorbents with copper also was verified
by a study of their sorption properties. Utilization possibilities of natural bentonites and zeolites as sorbents
for decreasing Cu content in drainage water were studied as well. Their efficiency was approximately 88-
98%. Content of As (As(III):As(V) is 1:5) was not regularly increased in the drainage and surface water in the
Lubietova – Svatodusna valley deposit. Nevertheless, it requires regular monitoring.