TAILING PONDS POTENTIAL POLLUTION FROM THE DRÂA LASFER MINE AND IMPACT OF MINING WASTES ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUNDWATER IN TWO VILLAGE OF AREA IN MARRAKECH –MOROCCO

S. El Fadeli, University Cadi Ayyad, Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, Ecotoxicologie et Assainissement, Marrakech, Maroc / Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Swiztzerland
R. Bouhouch, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Swiztzerland
M. Chaik, Y. Barkouch, University Cadi Ayyad, Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, Ecotoxicologie et Assainissement, Marrakech, Maroc
A. Aboussad, Medical University Hospital Ibn Tofail, Marrakech, Morocco
N.Lekouch, Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, Ecotoxicologie et Assainissement, Marrakech, Maroc
R. F. Hurrell, M.B. Zimmermann, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Swiztzerland
A.Sedki, University Cadi Ayyad, Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, Ecotoxicologie et Assainissement, Marrakech, Maroc

Abstract

Mine wastes of treatment in Drâa Lesfer have multiple impacts on the environment. In addition to the negative impact on the landscape, various other impacts resulting from a combination of mobility in the space after erosion of wastes and the chemical polluting capacity of its components.
Sampling was conducted in two different villages near the mine area (District Daraa Lasfar) which is located in the northwest area Mrabtine, located about 13 km west of Marrakech Morocco.
The prospected site includes zinc, lead and copper sulphide deposits. This site is located in an agricultural area where ground water is used both for irrigation and drinking.
Eco-toxicological investigations have been undertaken in order to asses the tailings impact on water quality in nearby wells.
As compared to standard wells, waters from the wells located in Village 1 (downstream of the mining site) have high hardness (caco3) 940,4 mg/l and high major ions contents, which can reach:, in Cl-, 316,66 mg/l,  in No2  0,4 mg/l, in Ca2+ 284,2 mg/l, in Pb 0,012 mg/l, in Zn  18,8 mg/l and in Cu 3,4 mg/l.
It is likely that these biological differences are due to water quality alteration induced by the mining activity.