This paper reports on the comprehensive monitoring of the Rookhope Burn catchment in the
Weardale valley, northern Pennines (Uk), which has been subject to lead, zinc, and fluorspar mining for
over two centuries. Zinc is the major contaminant in surface waters, exceeding the Environmental Quality
standard value for salmonid fish. synoptic flow monitoring and water sampling have been carried
out, including both inflow and instream sampling points along the Rookhope Burn, with the purpose
of tracing both point and diffuse sources of Zn throughout the catchment. The Zn load profile suggests
an important role for Zn-rich groundwater contributions to the stream bed and has also established the
existence of Zn sinks. Evidence from hyporheic zone sampling suggests Zn reaction or surface complexation
with Mn oxide surfaces forming on stream bed sediments as a potential mechanism responsible
for the observed metal attenuation. Current work is focused on testing the potential of Zn isotopes to
fingerprint sources and pathways of Zn in the aquatic system. Preliminary results show significant variation
in the stream water Zn isotopic signature from the headwaters to the base of the catchment
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