ASSESSMENT OF THE INTENSITY OF THE IMPACT OF OPEN-PIT MINING OF THE MEZHYRICHNE TITANIUM PLACER DEPOSIT ON GROUNDWATER

Abstract

The intensive open-pit mining of alluvial titanium ores at the Mezhyrichne deposit increases the risk of groundwater pollution, which generally affects the state of the region’s water resources. The lack of a systematic assessment of the intensity of this impact makes it difficult to develop effective groundwater protection measures. The development of a methodology for analyzing the level of water pollution and assessing the effectiveness of environmental protection measures is an urgent scientific and practical task. The study is aimed at developing and implementing a methodology for assessing the intensity of hydrochemical impact of open-pit mining on groundwater within the Mezhyrichne placer titanium ore deposit. The focus is on assessing the current state of groundwater and the dynamics of changes in its chemical composition based on post-project monitoring data. Based on the analysis of post-project monitoring data for 2020–2022, it was found that in the areas of influence of quarries and concentrators, there is a gradual increase in the concentrations of pollutants typical for the area and for mining activities. A tendency to increase the arithmetic mean values of relative concentrations of pollutants in groundwater was revealed, which indicates an increased impact on groundwater from either anthropogenic or natural factors. The analysis of seasonal changes confirmed that the level of groundwater pollution can vary depending on changes in hydrogeological conditions and intensity of production activities, as well as changes in climatic factors.For the first time, the intensity of the impact of mining activities on groundwater was assessed within the Mezhyrichne deposit using the developed methodology. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of changes in the chemical composition of groundwater was performed using post-project monitoring data to assess the effectiveness of environmental protection measures. The results obtained are important for the environmental service of the enterprise, as they allow timely detection of threats to groundwater and development of measures to minimize them. The developed methodology for assessing the intensity of groundwater pollution allows for a comprehensive analysis of the ecological state of groundwater in the conditions of open-pit mining of titanium ores. The proposed approach can serve as a basis for confirming the effectiveness or, if necessary, improving the already implemented water protection measures within the activities of mining enterprises.