Environmental diagnosis of an ancient tungsten mine in Argentina

Abstract

Los Cóndores Mine, the most important tungsten mine exploited in Argentine, had its permanent closure in 1982, leaving mining environmental liable in place with potential impact on the quality of different environmental elements (water, air, flora, fauna, etc.). This work carries out an environmental impact assessment of the place by using a double entry matrix, which identifies and characterizes the impacts on the crossing spaces. The importance of the environmental liable on the recipient environment is determined through certain qualities of it, which are introduced in a function that allows us to finally estimate the Importance of Environmental Liable (IM) indicator. Results revealed that the soil element turned out to be the environmental factor with a critical negative impact related to the affectation due to waste generation. In addition, the solid waste disposed in the place severely damages water and landscape elements. The results of this study could be used for establishing a priority order of remediation actions required by the place.

Keywords

• mina los cóndores
• evaluación de impacto ambiental
• pasivo ambiental
• minería de tungsteno.