Characteristics of Wastewater Streams Within the Bor Copper Mine and Their Influence on Pollution of the Timok River, Serbia

• DOI: 10.1007/s10230-016-0392-6
• Publication Date: 2016-03-04T01:32:09Z
• Authors: S. Šerbula; V. Stanković; D. Živković; Ž. Kamberović; M. Gorgievski; T. Kalinović
• Keywords: River pollution; Confluence; Copper mine

Wastewaters produced by mining and metallurgical treatment of polymetallic sulfide ores have polluted the Timok River in Serbia for more than 100 years. We have characterized seven different wastewater streams within the RTB Bor facilities, investigating their influence on pollution of the Timok River before its confluence with the Danube River. Their relative contribution was calculated by considering the contaminant load of each wastewater stream and non-conservative transport along their flow paths. Three sampling spots in the Timok River, before and after its confluence with the Borska River, were also monitored.