COMPLEX EVALUATION OF TAILING IMPOUNDMENTS ON EXAMPLE RUDNANY, SLOVAKIA

10th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2010, www.sgem.org, SGEM2010 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 20-26, 2010, Vol. 2, 1151-1158 pp

ABSTRACT

Slovak republic committed to implement into legislative direction of European
parliament and European Council 2006/21/ES from March of 15th of 2006. The
direction contains conditions about disposal with wastes of mining industry, which
changes and adds direction 2004/35/ES. This legislative required creation of complex
evaluation methodology of different types of mining wastes.

Tailing pond represents area for permanently or temporary deposition of mainly
hydraulically consigned mud/sediment (waste). Consigned muds/sediments in tailing
ponds could react with water and air oxygen with acidity producing. By these process
can be mobilized toxic elements and contaminate immediate or further environment.
Main goal of our work is to suggest ant test (on the example Rudňany tailing
impoundment) best available methodology.

Tailing pond nearby Rudňany (eastern Slovakia) covers area 260 000 m2 with
thickness approximately 25m of sediments. Building of the tailing dump started in 1960
and its durability was planned till 1999 with maximal capability of tailing dump 6 553
000 m3. Background creates northwest boundary of Mesozoic carbonates of Spišskogemerské
Rudohorie Mts.. These are calcite and dolomite rocks of Slovak Carst joint to
Spiš basin of Paleogene age. Actual capability of embedded materials is 12 310 000
tons.

The mining beginnings in „Rudňany“ aren´t seriously known. Till 70.s of 19.th century
mining activities focused on exploitation of ores reach on Cu-Ag. Iron ores were useless
for treatment, abandoned in mines, or spilt on waste pills. In 1866 total length of mining
objects in Rudňany reached to 30 km lenght. In 1896 -1897 the concentrator and
calciner were built. First owens used natural wenting. Elusive gasses caused large
vegetation harms. Calcinating owens were equipped by hoods and exhausters. These
gases were feed into mercury plant. Hg was acquired here. The calciners were extended
during the years, last time in 1940. In 1953 research proved new ore stocks on northern
„Rudňany“ veins. From this time amount of mined ores have been lifted, and
culminated in 1978 and 1979. In 1992 comes to recession in mining ores, siderite ore
done. The production is now focused only in barite.