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Statistical Contrast Analysis of Hydrochemical Parameters Upstream of the Tidal Influence in Two AMD-Affected Rivers

Statistische Kontrastanalyse von Hydrochemischen Parametern in Acid Mine Drainage (AMD-) beeinflussten Flusssystemen Oberstromig des Gezeiteneinflusses

Análisis Estadístico de los Parámetros Hidroquímicos Uío Arriba de la Zona de Influencia de Tareas en Dos Ríos Afectados por AMD

两条受酸性矿井水影响河流上游的水化学参数统计对比

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Abstract

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), SW Spain, has been exploited since ancient times, and previous studies have compared different parameters in the Tinto and Odiel Rivers, the principal rivers that cross the IPB. We used classical statistics to draw contrasts between the two rivers. Samples were collected at two sites, one in the Tinto River, and the other in the Odiel, immediately upstream of tidal influence. Both rivers are strongly contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD). However, the results suggest a distinctive, although somewhat parallel, geochemical behavior. The pattern of affinity between parameters differs because in addition to AMD, the Odiel River receives important contributions from non-contaminated catchments, while the Tinto River is the main receptor of drainage from the Rio Tinto mine. The applied statistical approach revealed that pH and electrical conductivity present a similar temporal evolution, which point to an identical geochemical signature; this indicates that both systems are similarly affected by contamination from the same pyritic area.

Zusammenfassung

Der Iberische Pyrit-Gürtel (Iberian Pyrite Belt, IPB) in Südwest-Spanien wird seit historischen Zeiten bergbaulich genutzt. Schon viele Untersuchungen beschäftigen sich mit Parametervergleichen zwischen den Hauptvorflutern im IBP, dem Rio Tinto und dem Rio Odiel. Wir nutzen klassische statische Methoden, um Unterschiede zwischen beiden Flusssystemen aufzuzeigen. Beide jeweiligen Untersuchungsstandorte im Rio Tinto und im Rio Odiel befanden sich oberstromig des Gezeiteneinflusses. In beiden Flüssen ist ein Einfluss vom AMD nachweisbar. Jedoch können an den Untersuchungsstandorten jeweils charakteristische und z. T. parallel verlaufende geochemische Verhältnisse erkannt werden. Die Ähnlichkeit zwischen den gemessenen Parametern differiert aufgrund des unterschiedlichen AMD-Einflusses. Während dem Rio Odiel maßgebliche Anteile aus nicht kontaminierten Einzugsgebieten zufließen, ist der Rio Tinto der Hauptvorfluter für Abflussanteile der Rio Tinto Bergwerke. Die statistische Auswertung macht deutlich, dass die pH-Werte und die elektrischen Leitfähigkeiten zeitlich ähnliche Entwicklungen aufzeigen und somit auf identische geochemische Signaturen hinweisen. Dieses zeigt, dass beide Flusssysteme durch die gleiche Pyritzone beeinflusst werden.

Resumen

La faja pirítica ibérica (IPB), SO España, ha sido explotada desde tiempos remotos; estudios previos han comparado diferentes parámetros en los Ríos Tinto y Odiel que son los principales ríos que atraviesan la IPB. En este trabajo hemos usado estadística clásica para mostrar los contrastes entre los dos ríos. Las muestras fueron colectadas en dos sitios, uno en el Río Tinto y el otro en el Río Odiel inmediatamente río arriba de la zona de influencia de las mareas. Ambos ríos están fuertemente contaminados por AMD. Sin embargo, los resultados sugieren un diferente, aunque en alguna medida semejante, comportamiento geoquímico. El patrón de afinidad entre parámetros difiere porque el Río Odiel recibe importantes contribuciones desde afluentes no contaminados mientras que el Rio Tinto es el principal receptor del drenaje proveniente de la mina Río Tinto. La aproximación por estadística aplicada reveló que el pH y la conductividad eléctrica presentan una evolución temporal similar, que señala idénticas características geoquímicas; esto indica que ambos sistemas están afectados en forma similar por la contaminación proveniente de la misma área pirítica.

抽象

西班牙西南部的伊利比亚黄铁矿带(IPB)开采历史悠久,以往研究曾对比了横穿伊利比亚黄铁矿带(IPB)的Tinto河与Odiel河的水化学参数。本文采用传统统计学方法对比了两条河流水的水化学特征。研究分别于Yinto河与Odiel河受潮汐影响的上游取样。这两条河流都被酸性矿井水严重污染。但是,两种水样却显示出一种明显不同却有点类似的地球化学行为。由于除了AMD之外,Odiel河还接收大量未受污染流域来水,Tinto河水主要源于Rio Tinto矿井排水,两水样水化学参数之间关系明显不同。应用统计学的方法揭示,pH值和电导率呈现相似的时间演化过程,两水样具有相同的地球化学特征,表明两条河流经受着同一黄铁矿区的污染。

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Andalusian Autonomous Government Excellence Projects (Spain), Project P06-RNM-02167.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Ctra Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819, Palos, Huelva, Spain

    M. L. de la Torre, J. A. Grande, M. Santisteban, T. Valente, J. Borrego & F. Salguero

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  1. M. L. de la Torre
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  2. J. A. Grande
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  3. M. Santisteban
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Correspondence to M. L. de la Torre.

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de la Torre, M.L., Grande, J.A., Santisteban, M. et al. Statistical Contrast Analysis of Hydrochemical Parameters Upstream of the Tidal Influence in Two AMD-Affected Rivers. Mine Water Environ 33, 217–227 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-013-0258-0

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