Elevated contents of hazardous elements in natural ecosystems are often associated with human activities. Significant quantities of these elements, including heavy metals, are concentrated in tailings. The goal of the study was to assess the mineralogical and geochemical features of the old tailings of the decommissioned Krasnorechenskaya concentrating mill (located in Primorsky Krai, Russian Federation), which was processing complex tin-polymetallic and silver-lead-zinc ores, the chemical features of tailings pond waters, and the extent of environmental impact on the nearby Rudnaya river. In addition to the analysis of rock and water samples, the software modeling of the water-rock-gas system was carried out. In the study area, the minerals and rocks undergo changes that lead to the formation of highly mineralized, acidic waters saturated with various elements. In the tailings ponds, the maximum permissible concentrations were exceeded for Zn, Cd, Cu, Mg, Fetotal, Pb, Mn, Al, As, Co, Be, Sr, Ni, and Ba. The drainage from the tailings pond tripled the total mineralization of the Rudnaya river relative to the background values. However, the intoxication of the ecosystem by tailing products is partially inhibited by the secondary minerals in the tailings ponds. The negative impact is of a local nature, and 500 m downstream the concentration of many of the above elements is reduced. Despite this, the system that forms the chemical composition of highly mineralized waters is far from the equilibrium state. The oxidation of sulfides, dissolution of other minerals, and migration of oxidation and hydrolysis products will continue affecting the environment. In this regard, it is necessary to conduct environmental monitoring and undertake activities aimed at the recovery of mature concentration tailings or at suppressing the activity of hazardous elements by the conservation of tailings ponds.

中文翻译：

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选矿厂废料是人类环境和自然生态系统的重金属污染源：俄罗斯联邦滨海边疆区的案例研究

自然生态系统中有害元素含量的升高往往与人类活动有关。大量的这些元素，包括重金属，都集中在尾矿中。该研究的目的是评估已退役的 Krasnorechenskaya 选矿厂（位于俄罗斯联邦滨海边疆区）的旧尾矿的矿物学和地球化学特征，该厂正在加工复杂的锡多金属和银铅锌矿石，化学制品尾矿池水的特征，以及对附近 Rudnaya 河的环境影响程度。除了对岩样和水样进行分析外，还进行了水-岩-气系统的软件建模。在研究区，矿物和岩石发生变化，导致形成高度矿化，富含各种元素的酸性水。在尾矿池中，Zn、Cd、Cu、Mg、Fetotal、Pb、Mn、Al、As、Co、Be、Sr、Ni 和 Ba 超过了最大允许浓度。与背景值相比，尾矿池的排水使 Rudnaya 河的总矿化量增加了两倍。然而，尾矿池中的次生矿物部分抑制了尾矿产物对生态系统的毒害。负面影响是局部性的，在下游 500 m 处，上述许多元素的浓度降低。尽管如此，形成高度矿化水化学成分的系统还远未达到平衡状态。硫化物的氧化、其他矿物的溶解以及氧化和水解产物的迁移将继续影响环境。