Sustainable Water Management and Rehabilitation in the Mining Lakes, Ilgin-Konya, Turkey

Abstract

The processes during the search, production and enrichment of mining operations naturally affects the air, soil, water resources in turn the natural environment and living organisms. In general, the environmental impact of coal opencast mining operations is much more significant than that of underground mining and mineral processing. After stripping of the material filling the holes in coal opencast production, with the rise of surface water and ground water level is composed of large or small ponds. Low pH (acidic characteristic) and high metal concentrations (Al, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb) of these ponds, containing sulfide minerals and the waste materials, for the sustainability of natural resources is one of the biggest environmental problems. This paper is to investigate geochemical characteristics of the pond waters in the Ilgm Coal deposit area. Geochemical analyses were made by ICP-MS in waters taken from ponds in each three-month periods. Highest heavy metal contents 1839 ppb Mn and 9777 ppb Fe, the average pH values 6.49-7.81, turbidity (NTU) 0.1263.6, sulphate content 0.05-2.67 mg SO4/L, chemical oxygen demand 4-136 mg O-2/L, and electrical conductivity 285 mu S/cm4.68 mS/cm have been measured during the monitoring study of five different lignite opencast mine post-production lakes of the TKI GLI Ilgm. Analyses were performed in three-month periods. The results were evaluated within the framework of relevant laws and regulations.