Source apportionment of mine contamination across streamflows

Globally, metals released by mine waste represent a challenge for protecting water quality and ecosystems. Understanding metal dispersion in catchments is critical developing efficient remediation strategies reducing contamination from mining activities. Efforts to address the issue have been constrained diffuse sources variation of source contributions across streamflows. In UK, apportionment typically addressed using monitoring with low spatial resolution, which can underestimate contribution sources. this proof-of-concept study, were accurately apportioned mining-impacted catchment Mid-Wales (UK), hydrogeochemical approach combined continuous tracer injections, gulp streambed sediment geochemistry. The injections identified major Zn Pb point source, due tip runoff, potential groundwater contributions. Variations estimated during high flow conditions, having similar importance streamflows being mainly overground tips conditions (22% under 80% flow). distribution metal-bearing along stream sheds light on release mechanisms streamflow conditions. This apportionment, builds common methods, represents substantial advance accounting sources, understanding mechanisms, designing strategies.