Quantification of Pollutants in Mining Ponds Using a Combination of LiDAR and Geochemical Methods—Mining District of Hiendelaencina, Guadalajara (Spain)

More than twenty years after the last mining operations were completed in Hiendelaencina Mining District, it is necessary to carry out a geochemical characterisation of tailings stored two contiguous mine ponds. Both have significant amounts quartz, siderite, barite and muscovite show contents As, Ba, Pb, Sb Zn. The alkaline pH low electrical conductivity values, which support visual observation that rules acid drainage into environment. comparison National Topographic Map 1954 with LiDAR data from 2014 has allowed estimating volume abandoned waste. Based on slurry its average density, total tonnage pollutants been estimated at 279 ± 9 t Pond North 466 11 South. Although these are quantities pose risk environment nearby populations, they lower those present other Spanish districts, such as Iberian Pyrite Belt or Cartagena-La Unión. combined use data, aerial imagery methods proven be very useful for estimation