Assessment of the level of pollution of water bodies of the Denezhkin kamen reserve by the Shemur field

Abstract

Waste produced during the extraction of minerals can cause various environmental problems. One of which is polluting underground and surface waters. The purpose of the article is to assess the level of pollution of water bodies of the Denezhkin Kamen reserve by the Shemur ore field. To assess the level of pollution, individual and complex pollution indices, statistical parameters and the ʺQuartileʺ method for calculating emissions are used. An analysis of the geological structure of the territory and physical and geographical conditions of the area was carried out; the level of pollution was assessed; the main causes of pollution were determined; the main pollutants were identified. The waters flowing through the reserve are not polluted they are polluted near the reserve borders. Pollutants are carried downstream over long distances and get into the intakes of local settlements. In the Bannaya River basin, the pollution area is about 80 km; in the Olkhovka River basin, the pollution area is about 60 km. There is a dependence in the change in the concentration of pollutants on seasonality and weather conditions. The main pollutants are those that are contained in large quantities in the overburden rocks of the deposit. Additional studies are required using a sampling program, which was not available during the current studies.