Morfología Fluvial.-Caracterización morfométrica en cuencas hidrológicas afectadas por la minería

Abstract

ABSTRACT The intensive exploitation in the mining district of Cartagena - La Unión during recent centuries has generated a huge amount of waste scattered throughout the Sierra Minera. These debris act as a dangerous pollution agent in the drainage network because the generated runoff erodes and disperse these wastes that are highly contaminated by heavy metals. In this way, the drainage networks of the study area have been characterized to assess the production of runoff in basins which are sterile deposits, using the method of the Geomorphological Unit Hydrograph (GUH). The peak flows that have been obtained, taking into account the erodibility of soils, are capable of carrying large amounts of pollutants into the two main outlet areas (Mar Menor and Mediterranean Sea), meaning an important source of pollution in two sites of high ecological value.