The Groundwater Quality of the Area Tailings Mining Ponds in the North of Romania

Abstract

Mining activities are recognized as generating adverse effects on the environmental quality. The waste resulted from ore processing activities settled on the ponds was established as a significant pollution source of the soil and groundwater in the site areas. The paper presents the spatio-temporal variation of the characteristics of groundwater in the area of a waterproofed pond, located near two other tailings ponds, unenriched, of an age of over 30 years. Groundwater quality is highlighted in an area situated in the north of the country in terms of metals content determined in several seasonal campaigns.