Studies were carried out from December 1978 till February 1979. Quantities of suspended matter in the waters of Admiralty Bay ranged from 2.8 to 182.6 mg/1. The maximum quantities of suspended matter were recorded in the inshore zone, in particular at the mouths of the streams running off from the pielting glaciers. In the open regions of Admiralty Bay the average quantities of suspended matter were: 12.4 mg/1 in the upper water-layers, from 14.9 to 16.7 at the depth of 10-50 m and less than 10 mg/1 in deeper water-layers. The quantity of suspended matter drifting from the land into Admiralty Bay during austrial summer was estimated as averaging about 2000 tons per day.

In the paper the results on self-purification of mine waters contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been presented. Samples of waters from the .Zicrnowit" coal mine have been used. Concentrations of PAHs in the deposits and supernatant waters after selected specific periods of time were evaluated. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of 16 selected PAHs (as recommended by the USEPA) were carried out, as well as investigations on the PAH concentration changes versus time in deposits and supernatant waters. Extension of the sedimentation time resulted in increased concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs in deposits. The observed PAHs concentrations in deposits were high and comparable with these found usually in sewage sludge. Outing the whole sedimentation process sorption of compounds which are easily bounded on suspension (with log kow > 7) took place, which led do the decrease of PAH concentration in supernatant waters. 'The accumulation of PAHs in deposits and their desorption lo supernatant waters during the sedimentation process were not signi fi cant.

The results of investigations into suspended matter sedimentation from mine waters in the settling tank at the Ziemowit coal mine as well as in the relevant model of the settling tank were presented. It was shown that variations in the performance of the tank are caused by improperly accumulated sediment, which generates privileged water flow in superficial layers. Additionally, impetuous periodical water discharges seem to be important. The investigations performed on the settling tank model were focused on estimating the influence of temperature, flow rate and the aeration of mine water on the suspended matter sedimentation. Reasons for inefficiency of the settling tank were determined, and technological changes enhancing the process of suspensions removal were suggested.