Abstract
The Lowther Hills in the Southern Uplands of Scotland have a long
history of metalliferous mining spanning over 700 years. Mining and ore
processing generated significant quantities of metalliferous waste, but in the
Clyde basin the geomorphological impact was largely restricted to headwater
systems. In the mining district channel metamorphosis and flood plain
aggradation resulted in active transformation of valley floors. With the cessation of mining, these headwater systems returned to laterally unstable singlethread gravel bed rivers. The pollution legacy remains acute with sedimentassociated Pb values in excess of 150 000 mg kg-1, surpassing UK contaminated
land action trigger values by two orders of magnitude. Channel bank erosion
rates of 30–50 mm year-1 are responsible for remobilizing metal-rich sediment
from flood plain storage and now represents the dominant source of metals to
downstream reaches. The historical and on-going significance of this process
was evaluated 40 km downstream on the main flood plain of the River Clyde.
At this site mining-derived sediments were incorporated by passive dispersal.
A fingerprinting analysis indicated that the mining epoch contributed only a
minor flux of sediment to the flood plain, nevertheless peak Pb values exceed
1 500 mg kg-1 illustrating more pernicious geochemical impacts.
history of metalliferous mining spanning over 700 years. Mining and ore
processing generated significant quantities of metalliferous waste, but in the
Clyde basin the geomorphological impact was largely restricted to headwater
systems. In the mining district channel metamorphosis and flood plain
aggradation resulted in active transformation of valley floors. With the cessation of mining, these headwater systems returned to laterally unstable singlethread gravel bed rivers. The pollution legacy remains acute with sedimentassociated Pb values in excess of 150 000 mg kg-1, surpassing UK contaminated
land action trigger values by two orders of magnitude. Channel bank erosion
rates of 30–50 mm year-1 are responsible for remobilizing metal-rich sediment
from flood plain storage and now represents the dominant source of metals to
downstream reaches. The historical and on-going significance of this process
was evaluated 40 km downstream on the main flood plain of the River Clyde.
At this site mining-derived sediments were incorporated by passive dispersal.
A fingerprinting analysis indicated that the mining epoch contributed only a
minor flux of sediment to the flood plain, nevertheless peak Pb values exceed
1 500 mg kg-1 illustrating more pernicious geochemical impacts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The structure, function and management implications of fluvial sedimentary systems |
| Editors | Fiona J. Dyer, Martin C. Thoms, Jon M. Olley |
| Place of Publication | Wallingford |
| Publisher | International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) |
| Pages | 143-150 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-901502-96-1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Publication series
| Name | IAHS Publications |
|---|---|
| Number | 276 |