Summary:

In a tailings pond of approx. 1400 ha, a hydrotransport system conveys approx. 28 mln mg of flotation waste. Mineral waste is not really harmful to the environment (except for dust emission). What does pose a problem is the environment’s impact on surface and ground water, which is due to high concentration of chlorides, sulfates, sodium and magnesium in the water body. Based on a 10 year monitoring research program, the dynamics of chlorides and sulfates’ concentrations and charges in surface water around the tailings pond will be presented. Characteristic concentrations of surface water as a function of water quality in the tailings pond will also be evaluated.