Mining activities causes many kinds of environmental impacts over environment. In this paper we describe the research developed in the Capivari watershed, in the Curitiba metropolitan region, Paraná, Brazil. Alkalinity and pH changes in Capivari stream over 12 years were observed. The sampling program was performed in 387 sampling day's series at 1986/1987, and another period covering 1,095 days from 1998 to 2000. Comparing these series, the pH average was higher in 0,5 unities and the alkalinity were 15% higher within this period of time. From 1980 to 2001, mining areas of metadolomites spread out to an average rate of 47,000 m²/year. Field evaluations carried out on the Capivari stream showed that in regions close to low water streams and closer to stone-pits, the pH level was higher and it became more alkaline as the electric conductivity increased. These data support the hypotheses that the expansion of mining areas would affect the pH and the alkalinity of the Capivari stream.
mining; environmental impact; fluvial ecology; water quality
