Pollution of a Tasmanian river by mine effluents. I. Chemical evidence

Discharge of effluents from tin and wolfram mines has caused severe pollution of two creeks and lesser pollution of the South Esk River in North‐East Tasmania. The principal pollutants are sulphuric acid, zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, iron and manganese in dissolved or particulate form or both. The creek waters are rendered unsuitable for domestic or agricultural use and all normal biota destroyed. In the South Esk River trout are absent from polluted reaches though abundant elsewhere. Flood‐borne mine tailings, rich in particulate pollutants, have destroyed or degraded pastures along the South Esk River.