Hidden Earth 2023
Evidence of a Past Acid-Metal Mine Pollution Event Found within a Macrotidal Estuary on Anglesey
30 minute Lecture|Lydia De Brett

Abstract
Acid-metal mine wastewater is a source of heavy metal pollution within the United Kingdom. This occurs due to a lack of remediation of closed Acid metal mines preventing mine water seepage. Evidence of a past marine pollution event on Anglesey due to a release of acid mine wastewater from Myndd Parys was recorded in the sediment present in Dulas Bay estuary, a macro tidal estuary 4.4km away. It was found that within the estuary, sediment with a higher percentage of grain size under 63µm had higher heavy metal pollution from copper zinc and lead present within. Evidence of a higher influx of heavy metal pollutants was also found in two cores drilled within the salt marsh of Dulas Bay suggesting more significant metal fluxes in previous times when metal mining was at its peak. Overall, this suggests that greater remediation efforts should be undertaken especially as Myndd Parys is considered for reopening.
More from 2023
Lecture|Jo White
Snottites, Slime and Oozes – Derbyshire Mine Biofilms
Lecture|Fleur Loveridge
5 km of new cave in the dales: an a-mazing search for a missing master cave
Lecture|Rob Watson, Wookey
Should the GPF mandate cave expedition carbon offsetting?
Workshop|Peter Glanvill
Cavers' Just a Minute
Lecture|Peter Dennis
Cavers Rescue Cavers - the role of BCRC
Film|Nick Thorne
GB Cave: descent of Mendip's tenth deepest cave
Lecture|Jonathan Lester
Advancing Archaeological Speleothem Research & Its Future Role In Cave Digs
Lecture|Peter Macnab (snablet)
Vietnam & Laos 2020 - 2023
Lecture|Nadia Raeburn Cherradi, Sarah Parker
Totes Gebirge (CUCC) expedition 2023
Lecture|Fleur Loveridge
The Ario Reality and other Draughting Rifts