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Vol 278
Pages:
115-124
In press
Article
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Experimental study of ground level atmospheric metal pollution during the development of the Ozernoye polymetallic deposit (Western Transbaikalia)

Authors:
Aleksei M. Plyusnin1
Aleksandr V. Ukraintsev2
Mikhail K. Chernyavskii3
About authors
  • 1 — Ph.D., Dr.Sci. Chief Researcher Dobretsov Geological Institute, Siberian Branch of the RAS ▪ Orcid
  • 2 — Ph.D. Senior Researcher Dobretsov Geological Institute, Siberian Branch of the RAS ▪ Orcid
  • 3 — Ph.D. Researcher Dobretsov Geological Institute, Siberian Branch of the RAS ▪ Orcid
Date submitted:
2025-03-17
Date accepted:
2025-12-09
Online publication date:
2026-04-21

Abstract

Wastes from mining and ore processing have a negative impact not only on surface- and groundwater, soils, but also on the state of the ground-level atmosphere. In highly permeable deposits of waste storage facilities, as a result of weathering of ores and rocks hosting mineralization, highly mineralized waters containing metals are formed. Under their influence, liquid aerosol flows are formed above the storage facilities. Their conditions of formation and chemical composition are still poorly studied. The objective of the work is to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of toxic metals entering the ground‑level atmosphere as part of aerosols from the storage facility of oxidized ores and overburden rocks stockpiled during the development of the Ozernoye polymetallic deposit. The tasks set are to identify the mechanism of aerosol flow formation from the aeration zone of storage facilities, to develop a methodology for sampling aerosols by condensing them, and to collect the amount of condensate required for analysis. The collected condensate samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using Agilent 7500ce quadrupole mass spectrometer according to a certified procedure. We found that the total mineralization of condensation waters reaches 110-130 mg/dm3. The content of toxic elements (mercury, lead, zinc, copper) is several times higher than the concentration in surface waters of the area. In the snow cover in the area adjacent to the Mining and Processing Plant, manganese, zinc, copper, and mercury were found in abnormally high concentrations exceeding the MPC for fishery purposes. Their input into the snow cover is associated with evaporation from the surface of stockpiled wastes and transport of pollutants by air currents. The work shows that liquid aerosols containing high concentrations of toxic chemical elements are released into the atmosphere from the stockpile of oxidized ores and overburden rocks. To protect the natural environment, the enterprise needs measures to isolate stockpiled mining wastes from weathering agents and prevent aerosol input into the atmosphere, as well as to use personal protective equipment for personnel working with mining and processing wastes.

Область исследования:
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Keywords:
mining waste storage facilities toxic metals aerosol pollution atmosphere snow cover safety
Funding:

The work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation, project N 24-27-20077.

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