Acid mine drainages from copper mines in the southeast Serbia: Local problem with an international impact

Abstract

Through this study special attention was paid to AMDs, originating from copper mines, containing different heavy metal ions, and a certain amount of sulphuric acid. The research was conducted on the territory encompassing the RTB Bor mines (now Serbia Zijin Bor Copper). The AMDs occurrences, their water composition, metal potential, and impact on the local surface waters were determined. The major amount of mine waters flow into the Krivelj River damaging extremely its water quality. The research also included monitoring the Timok river water quality along its course from the Krivelj River inflow to the confluence with the Danube. Evaluating the metal losses, it was found that every year around 360 tons of copper, >500 tons of iron, and 30 tons of zinc from mine waters are lost, as being transported via the Krivelj River to the Timok and then to the Danube.