POLLUTION OF THE COASTAL BOTTOM SEDIMENTS AT THE MIDDLE PRIMORIE (RUSSIA) DUE TO MINING ACTIVITY

The contents and geochemical forms of Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were studi ed in the coastal sediments at the Sea of Japan, an area adjacent to t he watershed with a developed mining industry (Rudnaya River basin, mi ddle Sikhote-Aline). Solid discharge into the Rudnaya River has abnorm ally high metal contents that are in leachable forms, including sulfid es. Metal levels in the coastal sediments were elevated as a result of this polluted matter dissipation. Sediment pollution by Pb, Cd, Cu an d Zn (normalized Clark Concentration measure) exceeds 20-50 within Rud naya Eight and varies from 5 to 10 within a 25-km plume southward of t he bight due to current action. An alteration of the metal forms also occurred, due to mechanic decomposition of the sulfide minerals and di ssipation of all river-derived forms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.