Conditions for development of anthropogenic meromictic reservoirs in the workings of crystalline rocks (based on the examples of the quarries of the Zulovska pahorkatina, NE Czech Republic)

There are numerous anthropogenic water reservoirs in the vicinity of the Z ˇ ulovska´ pahorkatina (northern Czech Republic). The vast majority of them have developed as a result of the flooding of the abandoned quarries of crystalline rocks (granites or granodiorites). The surface area of these water bodies is small and is \6000 m2. These are, however, very deep reservoirs of up to 25 m. Permanent water stratification has been recorded in some of them; these are meromictic reservoirs. The development of the phenomenon of meromixis in the reservoirs that were studied was conditioned by the supply of organic matter from the catchment. The biochemical process of organic matter decomposition led to the release of ions, mainly NH4 ?. The accumulation of dissolved substances in the benthic zone initiated the meromixis phenomenon. Therefore, the water bodies that were tested can be classified as reservoirs of the biogenic type of meromixis. This article presents the stages of the evolution of a holomictic reservoir into a meromictic one. Three water bodies in which meromixis was recorded were selected for the study. The control object was an abandoned quarry reservoir with no meromixis

Hydrographic and hydrochemical characteristics of the landslide lake Jazerske (Spišska Magura, Northern Slovakia)

This article presents the hydrographic and hydrochemical characteristics of this lake. Lake Jazerske is located in the Western Carpathians (Spiš Magura) in northern Slovakia. It occupies a depression that was formed at the foot of the main scarp of a landslide. Below the lake, there are small intercolluvial depressions that have been transformed into wetlands (peat bogs). The studied lake is very small. Its area is 3600 m2 and its length is 85 m. The maximum depth of the lake is 7.2 m and its capacity is 17 000 m3. The lake is supplied by an inflow of groundwater via fractured aquifers. During periods of heavy rainfall and snow melting, the lake is also supplied by the water from surface runoff. On the main slope of the landslides, traces of ephemeral courses were also found. During the periods of increased supply (spring snow melting, summer rainfall), the outflow of water from the lake occurs both on the surface and underground. In terms of its hydrochemistry, the lake water represents the four-ion type – bicarbonate-sulphate-calcium-magnesium. The concentrations of various ions is characteristic of the shallow groundwater of the Carpathian flysch. The predominant cation, the average concentration of which is 52 mg dm–3, is calcium. The dominant anion is carbohydrates with an average concentration of 163 mg dm–3. What is interesting is the very low levels of chlorides, which do not exceed 2 mg dm–3. The electrolytic conductivity of the water flowing out of the lake ranged from 290 to 328 μS cm–1

Impact of Saline Mine Water: Development of a Meromictic Reservoir in Poland

The hard coal mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin of southern Poland have highly saline waste water. In the past, such water was often discharged into nearby reservoirs, which would completely change the physical– chemical properties of the reservoir water. In some cases, it also caused permanent stratification; meromictic reservoirs were created. This paper describes the properties of the water in one such reservoir, in a mined out rock quarry in Katowice (southern Poland). Three zones characteristic of meromictic water bodies can be distinguished in the reservoir: a surface atmosphere responsive zone (mixolimnion), a transition zone (chemocline), and a bottom unmixed layer (monolimnion). For comparison, baseline conditions for normal reservoir water were assumed to be represented by the nearby Grunfeld reservoir, which also formed in a closed quarry, but was not used for disposal of mine waste water

Impact of a Saline Mine Water Discharge on the Development of a Meromictic Pond, the Rontok Wielki Reservoir, Poland

A characteristic feature of the mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in southern Poland is their highly saline mine water. In the past, this water was often discharged into anthropogenic reservoirs located a short distance from the mines, which completely changed the physicochemical properties of the water. In some cases, it also led to stratification of the reservoir waters, i.e. to the formation of meromictic water bodies. The Rontok Wielki reservoir, a former fish breeding pond, was converted into a settling tank for the highly saline ( Cl− = 38,000 mg/L) water discharging from the Silesia Mine. The water in the tank stratified in three distinct zones: a mixolimnion, chemocline, and monolimnion. The saline mine water input ceased in 2003 and since then, there has been a gradual decrease in the electrical conductivity and [ Cl−] in the reservoir waters. Moreover, meromixis has been entirely eliminated and freshwater breeding species have reappeared. A control, the Rontok reservoir, which was also a breeding pond, but was never used to settle saline mine water, was also studied for comparison

The properties of reservoir water in post‑mining excavations of Cambrian and Devonian quartzite sandstones (Holy Cross Mountains)

In the Holy Cross Mountains (southern Poland), there are numerous disused quarries. Some of these are filled with water, and some, despite their nearby location, have extremely diverse physicochemical and chemical properties of their waters. One such object is the Wiśniówka Mała reservoir. Its waters contain large amounts of sulfates (> 700 mg/L) and iron (24 mg/L), which are weathering products of rocks containing metal sulfides (mainly pyrite) in the direct drainage zone. As a consequence, there is an increase in the electrolytic conductivity of the water supplying the reservoir, resulting in very low pH values (< 4). This article presents the detailed limnological characteristics of this reservoir and explains the process that led to its water acidification. A control reservoir, Barcza, was also selected for the tests. Although it is also a post-mining excavation, it has a neutral pH and a low concentration of sulfates and iron. The examined reservoirs differ in the hydrochemical type of waters. The Wiśniówka Mała reservoir represents a sulfate–calcium double-ion type ( SO4 2−–Ca2+) and the Barcza reservoir, a bicarbonate–calcium type ( HCO3 −–Ca2+). The concentrations of the main ions occurring here are shaped by the lithological features of the surrounding rocks (respectively: Upper Cambrian quartzite sandstones with pyrite mineralization zones, Lower Devonian sandstones cut by mudstones and claystones with tuffite inserts)

Natural and Anthropogenic Conditions of the Chemical Composition of Pit Lake Waters (Based on Example Pit Lakes from Central Europe)

The article presents a classification of hydrochemical types of waters in pit lakes. Although natural factors significantly influence the chemical composition of water, the differences between hydrochemical types are also determined by anthropogenic factors. The chemical composition of the water in pit lakes is primarily determined by the kind of rocks mined during the excavation, while secondary anthropogenic impacts can modify the chemical composition of the water. A multidimensional clustering analysis of the water was performed, which allowed three main types of hydrochemical reservoirs to be delimited for the pit lakes assessed in this study: a bicarbonate–magnesium–calcium water type ( HCO3–Mg–Ca), a bicarbonate–calcium water type ( HCO3–Ca), and a sulphate–calcium water type ( SO4–Ca)

Influence of thermally polluted water on the growth of Helophytes in the vicinity of a Colliery waste tip

The impact of thermal pollution of leachate from a post-coal mine heap on three macrophyte species: Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, and Scirpus sylvaticus was examined over the entire vegetation season. Hydrological measurements showed that the temperature of the leachate was ca 50 °C at the site of leachate inflow and decreased to ca 15 °C at the end of discharge canal. The annual temperature and conductivity of leachate from the two control sites, a polluted water stream in the vicinity of the waste tip and an unpolluted stream, differ significantly. However, only the temperature explained the differences in plant traits. In April, and in some cases in May, plants in the leachate were significantly higher than in those on the control sites in terms of biomass and plant height. Thermal pollution caused a phenological shift in all species and also caused Scirpus plants to die out more quickly. Temperature also affected the proportion flowering vs. vegetative individuals, e.g., none of Scirpus plants started to bloom

Atrakcje geoturystyczne Gruzji (na przykładzie wybranych obiektów z obszarów krasowych i wulkanicznych)

Several highly interesting sites with high tourist potential have been characterised against the background of ge-neral geological and geomorphological conditions of Georgia. Sites located within limestone and volcanic massifs were selected for observations. Attention was also paid to the symptoms of mud volcanism, as well as to the "rock city" – an old cave monastery complex (a site of cultural values, but closely related to natural values). Most of the discussed sites are currently difficult to access for an average tourist, so they do not experience mass tourism

Wybrane atrakcje geoturystyczne południowo-wschodniego Kazachstanu

Kazakhstan is a country with a rich natural diversity and associated with this great tourism potential. The geological and geographic heritage of the country is created by relic landscapes, which can still be classified as natural or quasi-natural. The purpose of the article is the geomorphological and hydrographic characteristics of several geotouristic objects, which have been identified in the semi-arid and desert, south-eastern part of this country

Changes in the morphometry of fish breeding ponds under the influence of mining subsidence

W artykule przedstawiono zmiany morfometrii stawów hodowlanych pod wpływem górniczych osiadań terenu. Do badań wytypowano dwa stawy położone na terenie Górnośląskiego Zagłębia Węglowego (GZW). W następstwie górniczych osiadań terenu dochodzi głównie do wzrostu głębokości stawów. Następuje również ich przekształcenie w zbiorniki niespuszczane