peatlands as filters for polluted mine water—a case study from an uranium-contaminated karst system in south africa—part i hydrogeological setting and u fluxes泥炭地作为污染过滤器我u2014u2014案例研究从uranium-contaminated岩溶系统在南africa-part我水文地质背景和u通量.pdfVIP

Water 2011, 3, 291-322; doi:10.3390/w3010291 OPEN ACCESS water ISSN 2073-4441 /journal/water Article Peatlands as Filters for Polluted Mine Water?—A Case Study from an Uranium-Contaminated Karst System in South Africa Part I: Hydrogeological Setting and U Fluxes Frank Winde 1,* and Ewald Erasmus 2 1 North-West University, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa 2 Geotechnical Environmental Specialists, 108 Wenning Street, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa; E-Mail: geotech@netactive.co.za * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: frank.winde@nwu.ac.za; Tel.: +27-18-299-1582; Fax: +27-18-299-1582. Received: 12 February 2011 / Accepted: 10 March 2011 / Published: 15 March 2011 Abstract: Located downstream of goldfields of the Witwatersrand basin, the Gerhard Minnebron (GMB) Eye—as major water source for downstream community of some 300,000 people—may be impacted on by mining-related water pollution especially with uranium (U). Containing up to 5 m-thick deposits of peat that is frequently reported to act as a filter for U and other heavy metals, this paper is the first part of a series that aims to quantify the ability of the GMB peatland to act as buffer against current and future U pollution. In a first step, this paper outlines the geohydrological conditions and discusses how deep–level gold mining impacted on the dolomitic aqu