Seasonal variations in the turbidity and composition of suspended solids in the Kafue and Mwambashi rivers and the effect of mining effluent

• The paper discusses the seasonal changes in the turbidities of the Kafue and Mwambashi Rivers. These turbidities are compared to the maximum volume of water which could be passed through a filter at those turbidities. A mathematical analysis shows that the variation of the maximum water volume filtered with turbidity should be approximately hyperbolic. This is what is noticed at Garneton, Fisher's farm and Gwabi. At Machiya Ferry however, a different variation was encountered. It is also noticed that unlike at the other three sampling points, at Machiya, the highest turbidities occur during the dry season. It is thought this could be due to the ongoing sedimentation of coarser size fractions as well as the precipitation of new finer solids which is taking place in the river. The effect of mining effluent on the turbidity of the Mwambashi River is also discussed.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geokemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geochemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Applied Geology

Tillämpad geologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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