Mapping of contaminant dispersion from a polluted mining area by geochemical and geophysical methods, Rävlidmyran,northern Sweden : Use of geochemical and geophysical studies to investigate contaminants

Abstract: After open pit mining, the pit can either be backfilled or be filled with groundwater andbecome a pit lake. These lakes tend to be acidic and contains high concentrations ofmetals, which increases the environmental risks in the area. One of these pit lakes isRävlidmyran in the Skellefte ore district. This problem and this pit lake have created thepurpose of this thesis, which is to compare the different water types connected to an openpit, i.e. groundwater, surface water and the actual pit lake water, and to connect the waterwith geophysical readings. The purpose is also to compare ratios between elements to beable to gain more geochemical information.To gain information about the groundwater, several groundwater pipes have since a longtime back been installed in the area. The groundwater has thereafter regularly beensampled and analysed. The surface water has also been sampled regularly in differentspots. In the pit lake, a depth profile has been created by water sampling at differentdepths in the pit lake. The geophysical measurements used in this thesis are resistivityand induced potential measurements, and measurements were done with the slingrammethod.The water sampling indicated that all three types of water contained elevatedconcentrations of metals. The ratio between (Cu+Zn+Pb)/Na indicated that the pit lakehad the highest value. The measurement also indicated that the highest concentration ofdissolved metals is found under the chemocline in the pit lake, compared with other watertypes. Also, the ratio Fe/S were the highest under the chemocline in the pit lake, whichindicates e.g. dissolution of pyrite. When it comes to the ratio representing e.g. dissolutionof gypsum (Ca/S) it was below 1 all the time, except for in two groundwater pipes. The(Ca+Mg)/Na–ratio had the highest values in the pit lake and that indicates dissolution ofe.g. carbonates. This is not very surprising since the pit lake has been and are limedregularly.The geophysical investigations indicated increased electrical conductivity in a waste rockheap northwest of the pit lake, where the sampling indicated elevated copperconcentrations. The readings also show that the groundwater flow direction is againstLake Hornträsket north of the pit lake. They also indicated potential flow paths for thegroundwater. These can contain elevated concentrations of ore elements, which can beconfirmed by a sampling of the groundwater in that area. From the geophysical data, it isalso possible to see that one of the profiles are located along a possible groundwaterplume, based on a low resistivity area and the shape of the potential plume.