UNDERGROUND MINING ENGINEERING 14 (2005) 137 - 144 UDK 62

FACULTY OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, BELGRADE YU ISSN 0354-2904

Expert paper
THE PROTECTION OF THE SURFACE FLOWS FROM THE IMPACT
OF THE MINE WATERS OF THE ORE DEPOSIT KOPORI-UTA
PRLINA-JELAKCE ATORICA

Milentijevi Gordana1 Nedeljkovi Blagoje1, Jaki Miljan1

ABSTRACT

In this paper there is presented the issue of degradation of the

natural balance of the environment, concrete pollution of the mountain
rivers in the ore deposits zone as a result of the lead-zinc ores
exploitation in the mines of the ore field Kopori-uta Prlina-Jelakce-
atorica. Under the actual conditions, when there is no ore exploitation in
these sites, the unsatisfied quality mine waters appear on the mine
works, on the undermines and run off with no control and pollute the
mountain rivers. In this paper there are showed the syntese of all
explorations until today as well as the suggestions, or directions for
further research to overcome present problems.

Key words: ore field, lead-zinc ore exploitation, hydrogeology, fissure

porosity, water permeability, mine waters.

1.0. INTRODUCTION

The ore body Kopori-uta Prlina-Jelakce-atorica is situated on

the southeast from the central region of Kopaonik, and its total surface
area is 144 km2. Ore fild is characterized by mineralized tertiary
metalogenesis era. The exploitation of the lead-zinc ore is stopped many
years ago. By touring of the abandoned mines: Kopori( surface mine),
uta Prlina, Jelakce i atorica, there are observed the appearances of
the mine waters, on the mining pits, most frequently on the undermines,
running off without control, and pollute mountain rivers.
The approach to the mining chambres, in present condition is
impossible, so certain procedures for definition of the flows and direc-
tions of the ground waters inside the openings can not be done. So, it is
important to evaluate water bearings ( effective porosity, efficiency of
waterpermeability) of the rocks with fissure porosity structure, as the
most common in the ore field.
By this paper it should be pointed on, by monitoring the elements of
the mine water regime, the level of the natural balance distruction of the

1
Faculty of technical sciences, Kosovska Mitrovica
138 Milentijevi G.; Nedeljkovi B.; Jaki M.;

environment, first of all the mountain rivers and indirectly the soil and
ground waters in down flow of Ibar.

2.0. GEOLOGY STRUCTURE OF THE ORE FIELD AND GENERAL

GEOLOGY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEPOSIT AND ORE BODIES
IN THE ORE FIELD

Considering the geology features in this area, there are mostly ultra
basic rocks of so called Ibar massive (serpentinites or serpentinited
peridotites) and tertiary magmatic complex (andezite, rhyodacite, Fig.1)
There are also Upper Cretaceous sediments ( flysch sediments). The
characteristic in this geology construction is that there are no Triassic
figures on the surface, which are however separated in the other lead
zinc ore bodies in deeper parts of the terrain in Kopaonik region.
The location, forms, dimensions and orientation of the ore field are
defined by two fractured zone of higher order northwest orientation (
Malo Kosovo-Otro Koplje-atorica-Pilatovica-Vojetin and Jelakce-uta
Prlina-Jelenska Reka-Lebane-Badanj) and fractured structures with
Northeast and east-west orientation which have intersection with them in
area Kopori, uta Prlina and atorica. These fractured structures
caused block structure of ore region by breaking into peaces the
ultrabasic massives.
Ore deposit Kopori is formed on the contact of serpentinite in the
floor and Upper Cretaceus flysch . The ore is in a form of hydrothermal-
quartz-carbonate mass, thickness 1-35m. Ore veins are connected to
cracks and caverns or they are made by selective-meta somatic
suppression of the parts of changed serpentinites. Sulfide veins reach
thickness of 1m in some places, and they are often comglomerated into
zones of 50 m thick. The most common minerals are galenite and
sfalerite. There is characteristic the presence of large number of Ni and
Co minerals in sulfide and arsenide form. The average content of lead
and zinc in ore is 2,9-3,2%.
The ore deposits uta Prlina and Jelakce are on the contact of
serpentinite and dacite andenzite and in serpentinite. The ore bodies are
vein-lence type, up to 100m length, 3m thick and depth to 200m. The
average content of lead and tinc in ore deposit uta prlina is 7-7,89%.
The deposit Jelakce is opened in height interval od 40m, and explored to
the depth of 160m. The average content of lead and zinc in the ore is 10-
13,9%.
The ore deposit atorica is positioned connected to the peridotite
contact with flysch sediments of Upper Cretaceous in rhyodacite
breaches in that interface contact. The ores respond to lance forms in
the contact of peridotite with cretaceous sediments and veins forms in
peridotite, volcanic breaches and the flysch sediments of cretaceous.
The protection of the surface flows from the impact of the mine... 139

Fig.1. Review geology map of ore bearing areas Koporic- Satorica

3.0. WATERBEARINGS OF THE FISSURE POROSITY ROCKS OF

ORE FIELD KOPORI-UTA PRLINA-JELAKCE-ATORICA

3.1.Photo geology analyze of fissuring of the rocks in ore field

Geology forms and tectonic fabric conditioned hydrogeology

characteristics of the ore field. There are separated the following water
table types, compact spring type (sypars and slope wash), cavern water
table type (scarns, hornfels, rhydacite, andensite, granodiorite, serpen-
tined peridotite) and conditionaly waterless terrains (marled-clayed flysch
sediments). From the rock massives of fissure porosity (cavern water
table type, conditionaly waterless terrains), through the fissures, cracks,
paraclases and paraclases areas, the mine waters penetrate in mine
works of ore field. The waters from the mining works run off by gravity
and now are appearing on the surface, the most often on the
undermines.
It is very important to determine the parameters of fissuring of
rocks, for they have impact to their water bearing, and they can be
defined by different methods. For this occasion it is applied photo
140 Milentijevi G.; Nedeljkovi B.; Jaki M.;

geology method, because the fact elements can be connected logically

during the interpretation so the researchers subject opinion is excluded.
For the photo-geology analyze of the ore field there were used
avio-stereo photos (VGI, Belgrade), and the observation results are
showed on the photo-geology map, and the results of the statistical
analyze of the observed repers are given on the orientation rosette Fig.2.

Fig.2. Orientation rosette of the observed structures

The statistic analyze is made by treatment of the intervals of 500m

length, on which all observed ruptures are divided. Total interval number
is 138.
From the tectonic elements the most common are rupture forms,
with two separated systems, very dominant, as well as two clearly
observed but less dominant systems. The dominant paraclases systems
are mutually orthogonal with azimuth 3100-3200, 300-400 and 400-500.The
less dominant systems are as the previous, mutually orthogonal with
statistic spread of 3500-3600, 800-900.
In the ore field, i.e. its eastern and the northeastern part the
paraclases are with general direction northwest-southeast, where the
systems of parallel local paraclases are separated. In the western part of
the ore field, the paraclases are in general direction southwest-northeast
but there are in east-west direction, especially in atorica area, which is
intersected by large regional ruptures. On the north of the ore field, in
Kadna area, there are more paralel paraclases in the same system.

3.2. Determination of the parameters of water bearing of rocks with

fissure porosity

The parameters of the water bearings of rocks with fissure

porosity (effective porosity-n, coefficient of water permeability-k), are
determined by empiric graphic-analytic methods.
The porosity of the fissured rocks is determined by Castilla. E.(1972.)
method, based on the porosity of certain families of the fissures and
defined based on the intensity of fissuring of observed fissures family (G)
and active opening, or gape of the same system
The protection of the surface flows from the impact of the mine... 141

i=m i =m

n = b i D Gi
i =1 i =1 (1)

n- porosity of the fissured rock,

bi- ctive opening, gape, of the observed fissure family,
Gi-Intensity of cracking of the observed fissure family,
m-number of the systems, families, fissures in the rock.

Water permeability of the rocks with fissure porosity is calculated

by the analyze of Vangham (1969), who gives the equitation for
determination of the coefficient of water permeability of the observed
fissure family, characterized by the position, intensity of appearances
and active opening, gape:

K = b D D G2 (2)

-coefficient of water permeability of fractured rock, i.e. coefficient

of permeability of one given fracture family,
G- Intensity of cracking of the observed fissure family ,
b- ctive opening, gape, of the observed fissure family,
-cinematic coefficient of water viscosity.

Three different families of the fissures are showed on the figure 3.

determined by knowing the elements of the slope, EP, intensity of
fissure-G and active opening , gape -b.

Fig.3. Families ( systems ) of the fissures, G1:G2:G3- intensity of

the fissuring of the fissures families I,II and III; b1:b2:b3- active
opening(gape) of the fissure families I,II and III

By this procedure it can be calculated the water permeability of

the separated fissure families in appropriate plane and observation
proportion
142 Milentijevi G.; Nedeljkovi B.; Jaki M.;

The coefficient of water permeability of the fissure porosity rocks

are determined by empiric graphic-analytical method of Vangham V. i.e.
by diagram , fig.4.

Fig.4. Diagram of coefficients of water permeability of the observed

families in relation on intensity of fissures (G) and gape size(b)

Porosity and water permeability is calculated for serpentinites,

marls, sandstones and andenzites, Table 1.

able 1., Table review of the calculated values of the porosities, water
permeability and discontinuity of the observed fissure porosity rocks (V.Tomic,
1988.)
No Rock type Porosity Water permeability Direction of the spreading the
n( %) K(cm/sec) system of discontinuity
-5
1. Serpentinite 2,8 2,610 NE-SW, NW-SE
-6 -5
2. Marls 1,6-2,3 5,410 -3,010 NW-SE, NE-SW
-5
3. Sandstones 2,3-4,6 6,810 NW-SE, NE-SW
-6 -5
4. Andenzite 1,9-4,1 3,210 -5,110

The calculated values of the porosity and water permeability in the fis-
sure porosity rocks, in serpentinites, marls, sandstones and andenzites
points that these rocks belong to the group of less porosity formations,
when n<5%, and that the ore field terrain Kopori-uta Prlina-Jelakce-
atorica is little to medium water permeable, for max= 6,8 x 10-5cm/s.

4.0. CONDITIONS OF THE WATERING OF THE DEPOSITS AND

PROTECTION MEASURES FROM THE MINE WATERS

By the previous research reviews, when it was exploitation and

exploration works in deposites mentioned above, there are data about
inflow of the minig waters in exploration works or in mining works, as well
as about the conditions for watering.
The protection of the surface flows from the impact of the mine... 143

From the rock massive of fissure porosity by cracks, caverns and

fissures, paraclases and paraclases areas, the mine water of total yield
of 276 l/s., penetrates in mining works or exploration works of ore field
Kopori-uta Prlina-Jelakce-atorica. The water from exploration or
exploitation works is discharged by gravity, appears on the surface and
goes into the mountain flows in deposit zone which flows toward Ibar as
a regional erozion basis.
It can be said, generally, that the watering is high in atorica
Deposit, while for the other deposits, the watering is relative.
From the mine works of the deposit Kopori-uta Prlina-Jelakce-
atorica the total amount od discharged water is 260-300 l/sec, which
pollute directly the surface waters of the clear mountain flows, running off
into Ibar. The polluted surface waters contaminate ground waters in
alluvial layers downstream from the deposit zone, so thay are unusable
for drinking for their high concentration of the toxic materials.
As an illustration there will be showed the tables 2. and 3. with the
chemical content of Ibar in zone from Kosovska Mitrovica to Kraljevo as
well as the ground waters of alluvial springs beside Ibar river , downstrem
from Kosovska Mitrovica (Table 4).

Table 2. Table review of the concentration of the heavy metals ( mg/l) in Ibar
water, measure point Kosovska Mitrovica ( Remountni zavod), (Data from the
Institution of the health protection, Kosovska Mitrovica, 2004)
Date of the
Cr Ni Pb Cd Zn Hg
sampling
1.6.2004. 2,74 6,66 4,46 18,78 7,44 261
2.6.2004. 2,66 3,4 2,62 17,12 6,18 185,4
3.6.2004. 0,39 0,14 0,385 0,835 0,464 13,356
4.6.2004. 0,105 0,259 0,248 0,615 0,426 14,8
8.6.2004. 0,09 0,112 0,182 <0,005 2,16 <0,001
9.6.2004. 0,086 0,172 0,295 0,05 0,096 0,577

Table 3. Table review of the heavy metals concentration ( mg/l) in Ibar,

9.06.2004. from Kosovska MItrovica to Kraljevo ( data from Institution for health
protection, Kosovska Mitrovica, 2004)
Place of
Cr Ni Pb Cd Zn Hg
sampling
Rudare <0,05 0,172 0,295 0,05 0,096 0,577
Balaban <0,256 0,088 0,317 0,051 <0,05 0,459
Raska <0,05 1,007 0,28 0,284 0,288 0,343
Brvenik <0,05 3,161 3,524 0,824 0,261 0,443
Kraljevo <0,05 0,872 2,084 0,078 0,299 <0,01

Table 4. Table review of the values of certain heavy metals in well waters of
alluvial springs of Ibar river, downstream from Kosovska Mitrovica (mg/l), ( M.
Stojanovic-Milosavljevic, 2004)
Cr Ni Pb Cd Zn Hg
<0,005-0,742 0,834-5,81 0,968-5,81 0,028-2,28 0,934-12,36 <0,005-0,059
144 Milentijevi G.; Nedeljkovi B.; Jaki M.;

From the tables mentioned above it is clear that there is pollution

by the high concentration of heavy metals and it requests the special
activity.
About the protection measures in mine works there is no point to
write because in mentioned ore field there is no exploitation. The mining
works are abandoned and without control, what is wrong considering the
environment protection. Watering was by gravity and if there will be
renewing of the exploitation it is necessary to rebuilt drainage canals,
control and neutralization of the mine waters and protection of the
surface flows.

5.0. CONCLUSION

By analyzing the obtained results there is a conclusion that the mine

waters, appearing on the surface of the terraine, the most often on
undermines are pollutants of the mountain rivers, thay are flowing into,
according to the physical-chemical analyzes. It is neccessary to monitor
the regime ( yield, temperature, pH) as well as the chemism of the mine
waters, to point out that the actual status of uncontrolled run off the mine
waters is not sustainable.
Obtained values for porosity and water permeability in the fissure
porosity rocks point on small porosity medium, and the terrain of the mine
field has small to medium water permeability, what is important if there is
further activities planned for the continuing the exploitation of ore in ore
field.

LITERATURE

1. Casttilo E. (1972): Mathematical Model for Two-dimensional

Parcolation Through Fissured Rock, Stuttgart;
2. Milentijevi G., Joki M., (2002): Hydrogeology characteristics of poly
metallic sulfide, Pb-Zn deposit Dranja ( Podujevo), Repertory of the
reports of XII Symposium of hydrogeology and engineering geology
with international participation pp 279-287, Herceg Novi.
3. Milentijevi G. (2005): Ground waters of the Northern part of Kosovo
and Metohia- usage and protection, doctors disertation, MGF,
Belgrade

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