Environmental impact of the historical Cu smelting in the Rudawy Janowickie mountains (south-western Poland).

Chemical and mineralogical analysis of slags, slag-contaminated and slag-free soils and stream sediments with leaching experiments and speciation modelling determine the environmental impact over 10 km2 of smelting activities from the 14th to the 16th century. Three subtypes of pyrometallurgical slags occur: porous slag, equilibrated massive and undercooled massive slag, each having different phase compositions. All slags still contain up to 1.4 wt% Cu, 1 wt% Zn, 750 ppm Pb and 300 ppm As. Leachates from a stream-water solution and distilled water contain lower concentrations of metal(loid)s than leachates from a citric solution, as shown in simple 24 h laboratory experiments. Release of metal(loid)s is higher for porous than for massive slags. Chemical analysis of soils, stream sediments and surface water indicate that some elements reach concentrations exceeding environmentally permissible standards, especially in soils. Pb isotopes were used to trace the impact of various sources of pollution, including modern airborne contamination not related to slag disposal. Slag texture and porosity, phase composition derived from the cooling rates of the slag melt, and environmental conditions are the most important factors controlling slag weathering and metal(loid) release.
Chemical and mineralogical analysis of slags, slag-contaminated and slag-free soils and stream sediments with leaching experiments and speciation modelling determine the environmental impact over 10 km2 of smelting activities from the 14th to the 16th century. Three subtypes of pyrometallurgical slags occur: porous slag, equilibrated massive and undercooled massive slag, each having different phase compositions. All slags still contain up to 1.4 wt% Cu, 1 wt% Zn, 750 ppm Pb and 300 ppm As. Leachates from a stream-water solution and distilled water contain lower concentrations of metal(loid)s than leachates from a citric solution, as shown in simple 24 h laboratory experiments. Release of metal(loid)s is higher for porous than for massive slags. Chemical analysis of soils, stream sediments and surface water indicate that some elements reach concentrations exceeding environmentally permissible standards, especially in soils. Pb isotopes were used to trace the impact of various sources of pollution, including modern airborne contamination not related to slag disposal. Slag texture and porosity, phase composition derived from the cooling rates of the slag melt, and environmental conditions are the most important factors controlling slag weathering and metal(loid) release.