Geoelectrical Survey in the Area of a Long-lasting Zn-Pb Waste Storage

This paper presents the results of geoelectrical study of the former Zn-Pb processing waste-dump situated in the Olkusz region , southern Poland. In the past two kinds of waste were stored in this place. One is the washing waste, the other consists of tailings. A certain amount of them was processed in the first half of the 20th century. At present more than ten thousand tons remain on the stockyard. The results of the chemical analysis show that the contents of metals such as Zn, Pb, Cd and Tl exceed several orders of magnitude standards established for industrial soil. Under the low pH value mobility of these elements is significant. Unfavourable geological conditions can cause the migration into the underground water. In the study area the electromagnetical method was applied to study the boundaries between waste and unpolluted soil. The resistivity method was taken to define the vertical range of waste and to identify layers lying below the waste level. Our investigation points that geoelectrical methods can be successfully used for contouring Zn-Pb waste.