Örebro Studies in Chemistry 27 I
ÖREBRO 2020 2020KR
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kristina åhlgren received her Master of Science degree in Geological
Sciences from Stockholm University in 2015 and is currently a PhD student in environmental chemistry at the Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre at Örebro University.
Alum shale is a sedimentary bedrock enriched both in organic matter (kerogen) and trace metals such as molybdenum, nickel, uranium and vanadium. Oil production from alum shale in Kvarntorp during 1942-1966 had severe impact on the surroundings, resulting in damaged forests and poor water quality. Kvarntorpshögen, a 100-meter-high waste deposit from the production era, mostly consisting of shale ash, still has a hot interior. There are also several pit lakes in the area and weathering shale horizons.
The overall aim of this thesis was to get a better understanding of the impact of alum shale mining with focus on trace metal release and transport. Analyses of solid samples, groundwater, and surface water in combination with leaching tests have shown ongoing weathering in the pit lakes, high concentrations of uranium, nickel and sulphate in groundwater around the waste deposit and a downstream transport of trace elements originating both from the pit lakes and the waste deposit.
issn 1651-4270 isbn 978-91-7529-362-2
