An analysis of physico-chemical parameters of effluent from a gold mine processing plant: an environmental pollution indicator

Abstract

There has been notable pollution impact on tailings dams and surrounding areas at gold mines in. Zimbabwe. Nevertheless,
there is little information on the levels of pollution and the prescription of the correct environmental remediation techniques. This
study aimed to investigate the physico-chemical properties of effluent water from gold mine operations. The level of physicochemical properties is an indicator of the level of pollutants contained in the effluent water. Pulp and water samples were
collected from a gold mine’s active slimes dam and its surroundings. Physico-chemical parameters examined on water samples
comprised; electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand
(COD) and turbidity.  It was noted with concern that three sites had electrical conductivity (EC) values in the red band of EMA
limits; the process effluent (6010µS/cm), see-page water (5810µS/cm) and down-stream water (5030 µS/cm). Total dissolved
solids (TDS) in process effluent (4250mg/L), seepage water (4060mg/L) and down-stream water (3440mg/L) are in the red
band of the local environmental management agency (EMA) standards. Additionally, process effluent pH was at 13.69, which
is too high and falls in the red band of EMA standards. However, COD levels were within the required limits in most of the water
samples. pollution, physico-chemical parameters, tailings dam, environmental pollutants