| The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the environmental impact and risk a mine and metallurgical waste (MMW) in 1Sierra Minera (SM), Cartagena-La Union (Murcia, Spain) due to accumulation a 180 millions tones a MMW in this area.; The physical, geological and economical characteristic a SM has been described. Samples of rain, surface, ground and see water, soil, sediment and MMW were collected. The concentration of metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) in plants, marine and land animals and different type of water, soils and sediments has been studied to determine a general view of the environmental problem in this area.; Several methods (e.g. cartography, geomorphology interpretation, diffraction and florescence a RX, geotechnical classification, geochemical tests, chemical analysis by ICP-MS, etc.) were used for characterization a MMW. Nine types a MMW were classificated according to origin and physical characteristic. The associated environmental risk and impact have been evaluated according different standard methodology.; The surface and ground water is very polluted by sulphated and metals (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb). The presence of dissolved salts (Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe, SO42-) is the result of sulphurs oxidation, which is heightened by preferential flow across subterranean mines, mining wells and cracks in the rocks massif.; The environmental risk and impact of the MMW are conditioned by the different ways pollutants are transported. There are three main transport ways: (I) surface run-off, (II) erosion, transport and deposition by the wind, and (III) groundwater flow.; Salt in solutions, sediments, and metals in suspension were transport by surface run-off and place in the bed of ephemeral streams, wadis, flood plain, Mar Menor and the Mediterranean Sea. The main surface water pollutants are sulphate, dissolved metallic elements (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn and Fe) and solid particles present in suspension form. The main atmosphere pollutants are sulphates and solid particles rich in metals were erosion and transported large distances by wind and deposited on earth surface and see.; Groundwater has been polluted with metals and sulphates by the infiltration of leached from the residue dumps. This problem is compounded by the existence of cracks caused by desiccation and bedding planes with layering of different gradations. Tectonic structure and gallery due to mine activities control the groundwater flow. According to the environmental impact a MMW two zone are defined: (I) Castle San Julian, El Llano - La Union and Cove Reona, affected directly by mine and metallurgical activities and (II) Mar Menor and littoral between Cape Negrete and Cape Palos, affected indirectly by the accumulated a MMW in the study area.; Considering the environmental risk is possible in study area defined different zones: (I) Castle San Julian, (II) La Parreta, (III) El Llano - La Union - Portman, (IV) Huerto Las Calesas, (V) Las Cobaticas and (VI) Cove Reona.; 1Mining region of Cartagena-La Union (Murcia, Spain). |
