Выпуск: 1 , Том: 4 , Год издания: 2016

The Karabash mine area was chosen as the research site for its potential hazardous influence on the environment of Chelyabinsk region. This work presents the results of a geochemical and geophysical characterization of an old tailing containing high contents of sulfide minerals, primarily pyrite (up to 25 wt%), chalcopyrite (3 wt%) and up to 1 wt% of sphalerite and galena. In order to obtain a representative characterization of the study area, geochemical analysis of surface water samples, groundwater composition, bottom sediments analysis and thermodynamic modelling were selected. In all compounds, high levels of trace elements (including Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Fe, Mn) were observed. A thermodynamic modelling study (WATEQ4f) revealed the mobilization of heavy metals mostly through the aqueous and sulfate complexes. Due to the large amounts of dispersed sulfide minerals, the pyrite-rich tailing characterized by an electrically conductive geophysical signature in comparison to the surrounding resistive bedrock. Meteoric water, getting on a tailings surface, gradually penetrates, on the way dissolving