Contamination of Soil, Water and Vegetation by Copper, Lead and Zinc Ore Mining and Smelting at Khetri and Zawar (India)

Soil, water and plant samples were collected from Khetri where copper mining and smelting are preformed and from Zawar where lead-zinc ores are mined and concentrated. Khetri samples were analysed for copper and Zawar samples were analysed for lead and zinc. The samples analysed showed contamination in both the localities. There is sufficient evidence to show that mining and related activities were responsible for contaminating soil, water and vegetation. Smelting of ore caused higher degree of contamination. Effluent from smelting operations on mixing with natural water bodies made the water acidic.

Different species of plants accumulated different concentrations of metals from the same soil. Those species whose ischolar_main portions are consumed can cause metal contamination.