Remobilisation of Zn and Pb in a mountain stream contaminated by mining wastes during a moderate flood event (Ariège, France)

Abstract

The Lez stream drains an orphan mining (Zn and Pb) district, whose tailings are sources of contamination. The evolution of the dissolved and particular Zn and Pb content was studied to evaluate the role of a moderate flood event on the downstream metal tranfert. Although Zn and Pb behave differently, floods appear for both elements as preferential periods for metal fluxes.