Mine Waters from Ore and Coal Mining in Czech Republic

Abstract

Mine waters are quantitatively one of the most important products of mining activities and their negative impact on the environ- ment may be extensive, even long after closing the deposit. The most important producers of mine waters in the Czech Republic are companies mining brown coal (Czech Coal a. s., Severočeské doly a. s. a Sokolovská uhelná, právní nástupce, a. s.) and black coal (OKD a. s.). Furthermore, mine waters are also generated in connection with mining of uranium ore (deposit Rožná) and a great amount comes from already abandoned ore and coal deposits under the control of the state enterprise DIAMO. Depending on the character of mine waters, treatment is required before their discharge into the surface waters. The paper also describes standard treatment technologies and other options of mine water desalination. In addition, the position of mine waters with regard to legis- lation is briefly summarized.