Influence des exploitations de coltan de la région de Kabarore sur la charge minérale et la turbidité des eaux de la rivière Mwogere

Abstract

The artisanal mining of coltan ore in the Kabarore region is causing considerable impacts on the Mwogere River. In fact, the
ore washing water from the mining sites pollutes this river more because a significant quantity of soil (mineralized or waste
rock) and gravel is transported to the valley of this river. This situation disrupts the water regime of this river: the level of
suspended solids increases, the river silts up and is sometimes deviated from its path. With the aim of clarifying these adverse
effects, particle size a analyses of the sediments, morphometric analyses of pebbles and analysis of the turbidity of the water
(by the filtration method) of this river were carried out. The results of the granulometric analyses proved a double origin of
the sediment input, the pebbles generally revealed a coastal origin although this zone is located in a fluvial context and the
quantity of suspended solids found is far greater than the normal content of a river outside the flood periods.