Impact of Mining on River Water Quality in Roșia Montană Area, Romania, and the Use of Zeolites for Acid Mine Drainage Remediation

A study on the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape reveals severe water pollution in local rivers due to mining activities, with pH levels dropping as low as 2.69 and sulfate concentrations exceeding 3600 mg/L, posing significant ecotoxicological risks. Heavy metals like iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) were found at hazardous levels, particularly in the Roșia Montană River, originating from the Gura Mine gallery. The research demonstrates that natural zeolites can effectively remove these metal ions, offering a promising solution for acid mine drainage remediation. Monitoring parameters included pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, sulfates, and heavy metals across five rivers: Roșia Montană, Săliște, Corna, Abrud, and Arieș.

Glevitzky, M., Bostan, R., Varvara, S., Corcheş, M.-T., Dumitrel, G.-A., & Popa, M. (2025). Impact of Mining on River Water Quality in Roșia Montană Area, Romania, and the Use of Zeolites for Acid Mine Drainage Remediation. Clean Technologies, 7(2), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol7020041