Acid Mine Drainage Effects in the Hydrobiology of Freshwater Streams from Three Mining Areas (SW Portugal): A Statistical Approach

Ana Teresa Luís (), José Antonio Grande, Nuno Durães, María Santisteban, Ángel Mariano Rodríguez-Pérez and Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
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Ana Teresa Luís: Department of Geosciences, GeoBioTec—Geobiosciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
José Antonio Grande: Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Nuno Durães: Department of Geosciences, GeoBioTec—Geobiosciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
María Santisteban: Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Ángel Mariano Rodríguez-Pérez: Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Eduardo Ferreira da Silva: Department of Geosciences, GeoBioTec—Geobiosciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-10

Abstract: Aljustrel, Lousal and S. Domingos mines are located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), one of the greatest massive sulfide ore deposits worldwide. These mines’ surrounding streams are affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The main purpose of this study was to understand AMD influence in the water quality and diatom behavior. Thus, waters and diatoms were sampled in 6 sites from the 3 selected mines on winter and summer of 2016. The highest concentrations were found in acidic sites: A3 (Aljustrel—Al, Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn (and lowest pH)) and L1 (Lousal—As, Mn, Ca, Mg, SO 4 2? and conductivity). The most abundant diatom species was Pinnularia aljustrelica with 100% of dominance in A3 and S1 acidic sites, which puts in evidence this species adaptation to AMD harsh conditions. Multivariate cluster analysis allowed us to reinforce results from previous studies, where spatial differences were more relevant than seasonal ones. In 12 years (2004–2016), and with many transformations undertaken (re-opening and rehabilitation), there is a conservative behavior in the biological species (diatoms) and physicochemical concentrations (metals, pH and sulfates) from these three mining sites. This type of biogeochemical diagnosis is necessary for the sustainable use of these waters and the prevention of the polluting process, aimed to protect the water ecosystem and its biodiversity.

Keywords: acid mine drainage (AMD); Aljustrel; Lousal; S. Domingos; Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB); diatoms; surface waters; mines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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