Geochemical impact of kholodninsk lead-zinc deposit on aquatic landscapes of northern part of the Baikal region

The features of pollution of aquatic environments (river and lake) in the area of impact of Grodnenskoe polymetallic mine, located in the water basin of the lake Baikal (Republic of Buryatiya) is considered. The main existing sources of pollution, the degree of toxicity and the scale of the impact on the drainage watercourses, as well as the peculiarities of transportation of pollutants were determined. Existing spatial zones of ecological risk for aquatic landscapes associated with modern geochemical impact of Kholodninskoe mine were revealed. Today, it is a part of the Kholodnaya River basin, which flows near the mine and receives water streams from abandoned tunnels. In the waters of these streams very high concentrations of pollutants (a number of heavy metals) have been revealed. They are hundreds and thousands times higher than the maximum permissible concentration. After the confluence of streams with the Chpolodnaya River pollution zone have been formed, within which the concentration of zinc in the waters of the river exceeds the normative values. For the TyyaRiver, which drains the ore body, but does not receive streams from the tunnels, significant excess of standards for the heavy metals content have not been found. Directly in the water area of the Lake Baikal, including the Gulf of Angarskiy Sor, where the Kholodnaya River flows, significant excess of permissible values was not identified, either. Based on the analysis of the selected samples, Conclusions based on the selected samples analysishave been made on specific featuresof current chemical elements migration in the «Kholodnaya River – Lake Baikal» system at the present level of economic activity, as well as the prospects for the future.