Groundwater pollution due to a tailings dam

In 1982, the Oman Mining Company (OMC) commenced copper mining and smelting operations in the area of Sohar (Wadi Suq). Sultanate of Oman. Seawater was used for mining operations until 1993. During this period, 11 million tonnes of tailings had been deposited behind an unlined tailings dam. This has resulted in a major groundwater pollution problem. This paper presents results from investigation of groundwater pollution. Data pertaining to various parameters such as pH and TDS were obtained from the OMC. Most of the data were for a period of 12 years since 1984 and were gathered from an extensive network of field monitoring wells covering a distance of 14 km downstream of the tailings dam. The trends of groundwater pollution are presented with explanation. The issue of the existing remedial measures (cut-off trench for containment of the pollution source) is addressed briefly. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.