Water quality in the topaz prospecting area of the Ponte River sub-basin, Ouro Preto - MG

Around the Ouro Preto region, State of Minas Gerais Brazil, there is a significant presence of topaz prospecting. This activity is characterized by the use of rudimentary techniques without any tailing disposal control. Among the environmental impacts are: deforestation, tailing generation and accumulation, introduction of stuspended fine particulate matter to the water and silting lip of streams. In this work a hydrochemical study, was carried out aiming to assess the water quality of the Ponte River and its tributaries. Mater samples were analyzed for pH, Eh, dissolved on, en, electrical conductivity, turbidity. alkalinit chloride,sulfate, metals (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn,Mo, Na, Ni, Sc, Sr, Ti, V, Y and Zn) and suspended particulate matter The results show, that. the main problem in the area is, the high turbidity values, which are associated with the presence of suspended solids introduced by the prospecting activity (reaching a concentration of lip to 2.9 g.L-1). This fact represents all important facto, since it demonstrates that metals are being deposited in the aquatic atmosphere.