The environmental legacy of historic mining activities in the Almond River Catchment, Scotland

The Almond River Catchment, Scotland, has experienced significant coal and oil shale mining over the last 300 years. Examination of surface water quality data from 1994 to 2008 indicates that this legacy continues to impact water quality. During low flows, elevated iron and sulphate loadings in the river are correlated with both coal and oil shale mining areas, most likely from pyrite oxidation at abandoned mine sites. On certain river sections iron loading decreases due to in-stream precipitation. Both iron and sulphate concentrations in the river water show significant flow dependence due to: the re-suspension of river bed iron precipitate; and sulphate dilution.