Formation of water chemistry in the Modonkul river under the action of mine drainage effluent

The Dzhida ore field in the Zakamensk district of Buryatia features high concentration of mineralization within a small area. The Dzhida deposit is composed of complex ore. The ore field contains commercial-value primary deposits: Pervomai stockwork of molybdenum, Kholtoson tungsten lode and Inkur stockwork of tungsten. The Modonkul river catchment basin lies inside the Dzhida ore field. A real threat to the town of Zakamensk is created by manmade sand—bulk (old) tailings and slurry dump. By now, the concentrated flow of natural and man-made sand enters the low terrace and floodplain of the Modonkul river in the form of a talus train. This study is focused on the influence of the mine drainage effluent and the Inkur tributary on the water chemistry in the Modonkul river. 80 water samples were taken from the surface layer 0–0.5 m thick at five stations. Physicochemical indices of water were measured at the water sampling points, and the water chemistry was analyzed in a laboratory. In the background conditions, cations and anions in the Modonkul water chemistry range in decreasing order as follows: Са2+ > Mg2+ > Na++К+ и HCO3–> SO42– > Cl–. In the zone of mixture of natural and mine process water, the chemistry changes: from hydrocarbonate to sulfate (anion), from calcium–magnesium to sodium–calcium (cation). Downstream the natural chemistry changes to the hydrocabonate-sulfate composition, with prevailing content of calcium in cations. Iron content of water lowers 3–4 times after influx of mine effluents, while the contents of Mn, Zn, Co and Cd grow and then decrease downstream.

Khazheeva Z. I., Sanzhanova S. S. Formation of water chemistry in the Modonkul river under the action of mine drainage effluent. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020;(6):56-66. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-6-0-56-66.

The study was accomplished under the state contract with the Geological Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Project IX.137.1.4: Interactions in the water–rock–organic matter system in the natural and man-made conditions in the Baikal Region. State Registration Number AAAA-A17-117021310076-3.

Z.I. Khazheeva¹, Cand. Sci. (Phys. Mathem.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: zkhazh@geo.stbur.ru
S.S. Sanzhanova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Junior Researcher,
¹ Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia.

Z.I. Khazheeva, e-mail: zkhazh@geo.stbur.ru.

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