Time Evolution of an AMD-Affected River Chemical Makeup

Acid mine drainage is the main problem encountered by sulphide mining operations, not only because of its ecological aspects, but also because, once it appears, it is very difficult to remediate both technologically and economically. This paper characterises the response of an acid mine drainage-affected channel in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Huelva, Spain) to the stimulus of rainfall in its drainage basin by studying the cause-effect relationships between sulphate, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, arsenic and cadmium concentrations in water samples taken at three points and rainfall in the zone.