Field testing methods to improve sampling for acid rock drainage assessments. Acid mine drainage amd forms when sulfide minerals are exposed to oxidizing. Water flowing through active or abandoned mine sites can become polluted by the material being mined1. Acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment. Nowadays, simple tests are widely applied and established in the mining and consulting business for ard prediction. Acid rock drainage treatment using membrane distillation.
The potential risk of contaminated mine drainage should be fully evaluated before mining. Mine planners must predict amd potential before disturbance. Although ard impacts 12,000 miles of rivers in the u. The gard guide was created through the contributions of many individuals and organizations. Policy for metal leaching and acid rock drainage at minesites in british columbia. Leviathan mine is a united states superfund site cerclis id. Acid mine drainage amd is essentially the same process, greatly magnified. Free oxygen appeared in earths atmosphere for the first time around 2.
The concentration of free hydrogen ions acid in solution is measured by ph. Compostfree bioreactor treatment of acid rock drainage. This research focuses on a novel method of ard treatment. Crush coarse rock samples such that at least 90% of the. Acidrock drainage at skytop, centre county, pennsylvania, 2004.
Acid rock drainage analysis and testing services acid rock drainage ard also known as acid mine drainage amd describes the formation of acid when sulphidebearing mine wastes principally pyrite, but also pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite are exposed to oxidising conditions, typically in the presence of. The ph scale actually measures hydrogen ion concentration in water solutions. Field testing methods to improve sampling for acid rock. Cost 1 mitigation measures are required when there is a need to prevent metal leaching or acid rock drainage impacts to other resources. Acid rock drainage as a concern and part of all metals and mining operations. Rocks stained by acid mine drainage on shamokin creek. The acidic water formed by this process can dissolve many metals in. This pdf of the gard guide can be downloaded and printed. Acid rock drainage ard, also referred to as acid mine drainage amd, is the outflow of acidic water from mining operations including waste rock, tailings. Development of the global acid rock drainage guide. As part of the superfund innovative technology evaluation site program, an evaluation of the compostfree bioreactor treatment of acid rock drainage ard from the aspen seep was conducted at the leviathan mine superfund site located in a remote, high altitude area of alpine county, california. Pdf acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment. In examining this table, it is important to note that diffusion of oxygen into water is slow and, therefore, oxidation of iron sulfide is inhibited until the water level drops, which can occur periodically or seasonally in some cases.
Media in category acid mine drainage the following 51 files are in this category, out of 51 total. A bench scale evaluation of organic substrates for use in constructed wetlands for the treatment of acid mine drainage 1991 197432284. Acid rock drainage ard is the natural result of oxidizing or rusting of certain types of sulfurbearing minerals in the presence of water, air and bacteria. This acid leaches out metals in the rock, which can enter nearby. Evolution of acid mine drainage formation in sulphidic mine. Acid rock drainage ard is a natural process whereby sulphuric acid is produced when sulphides in rocks are exposed to air and water. Acid rock drainage ard is the outflow of acidic water from mining operations including waste rock, tailings, and exposed surfaces in open pits and underground workings. Pdf acid mine drainage control and treatment researchgate. Research efforts have proceeded recently through the acid drainage technology initiative. Acid mine drainage amd is a worldwide concern in coal and metal mining. Acid rock drainage some bedrock contains minerals that can generate acid rock drainage ard. This is a natural chemical reaction which can proceed when minerals are exposed to air and water. Cleanup on most sites will take decades those with acid drainage will require water treatment in perpetuity.
Infield geochemical testing has the power to significantly reduce the time taken for laboratory testing and can result in. Provincial policy and guidelines for mlard are available for proponents below. Yellow boy in a stream receiving acid drainage from surface coal mining. Preventing impacts from metal leaching and acid rock drainage mlard is a highly important, costly and timeconsuming environmental issue facing the british columbia mining industry. Learn about how acid can naturally be generated from rocks exposed at the earths surface. Geological survey openfile report 20051148 online version 1. Pdf after performing this experiment, the student shall be able to. Acid rock drainage ard prediction is a very important issue in order to predict and prevent environmental pollution associated with mining activities. Preventing acid and metalliferous drainage department of industry. By james tuff and brent usher, klohn crippen berger ltd, brisbane, australia. Acid mine drainage amd is a problem occurring across the globe, including in southeastern ohio. The global acid rock drainage guide pdf about 126 mb.
Ministry of energy and mines and ministry of environment, lands and parks, july 1998 table of contents 1. Characterization of limestone reacted with acidmine drainage pdf. Comparison of acid rock drainage factors in waste rock piles and tailings. Acid mine drainage prediction compares acid rock drainage factors of waste rock piles and tailings impoundments. Cad98067685 at an abandoned openpit sulfur mine located in alpine county, california. By far the most common mine drainage problem is that of acid mine drainage amd. Sulfuric acid is produced when water interacts with sulfurbearing materials in the presence of oxygen and common bacteria1. The handcart gulch research site was developed by the u. While most mines do not have an ard problem, the few that do represent a signi3cant liability for their owners as indicated in many of. Acidic mining lakes acid mine drainage, limnology and. Acid rock drainage ard is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, chiefly iron pyrite or iron. Acid rock drainage ard, also referred to as acid mine drainage amd, is the outflow of acidic water from mining operations including waste rock, tailings, and exposed surfaces in open pits and underground workings. The following is an overview of information on some major. Most rock extraction sites, including mine sites and building construction sites, require a plan to assess, and mitigate if present, the risk of acid mine drainage amd.
Acid rock drainage management plan kinnears quarry v2. Acid rock drainage ard is one of the most serious and potentially enduring environmental problems of the mining industry. The formation of acid mine drainage and the contaminants associated with it have been described as the largest environmental problem facing the u. Acid mine drainage prevention and control options nural kuyucak golder associates ltd. Acid mine drainage mines built as early as the 1800s were developed in a manner which utilized gravity drainage, to avoid excessive water accumulation in the mines as a result, water polluted by acid, iron, sulfur and aluminum drained away from the mines and into streams results of acid mine drainage. The major areas of research on amd are prediction of amd and preventionmitigation. Acid mine drainage, acid and metalliferous drainage amd, or acid rock drainage ard is the. Compostfree bioreactor treatment of acid rock drainage leviathan mine, california innovative technology evaluation report national risk management laboratory office of research and development u. Aerobic bacterial pyrite oxidation and acid rock drainage. The development of the global acid rock drainage gard guide is sponsored by inap with the support of the global alliance. Acid mine drainage terms acid mine drainage amd water that is polluted from contact with mining activity acid rock drainage ard natural rock drainage that is acidic both produce acidic waters how to distinguish. Acid rock drainage from sulphide minerals is the most significant environmental impact from mines. The mine site comprises approximately 250 acres 100 ha of. Also learn about the impact of construction projects on this phenomenon.
Acid mine drainage solutions for the mineral industry. The water treatmentholding ponds 1 and 2 will be excavated to a hard base free of loose material and then lined with high durability reinforced shotcrete. So, to better understand amd and ard, lets begin by defining some terms like ph the standard measure of acidity. The acid mine drainage may also contain high amounts of co2 which forms carbonic acid and further depresses the ph. If constructed correctly, olcs should be maintenance free and provide amd.
Acid mine drainage, rock drainage, and acid sulfate soils wiley. Typically in nova scotia, ard occurs when pyrite and other sulphide minerals are exposed to water and oxygen, and react in a chemical oxidation process that releases sulphuric acid and metal oxides into watercourses downstream. Sgs laboratories offer complete ard testing services that help predict acidic effl uents. Pure neutral water has a ph of 7, acids have a ph less than 7 and. Problems associated with mine drainage contaminated drinking water disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals corroding effects of acid on parts of infrastructure such as bridges acid mine drainage mines built as early as the 1800s were developed in a manner which utilized gravity drainage, to avoid excessive water accumulation in the mines. In this lecture we discuss weathering, acid rock drainage and methods for prevention and mitigation.
Illustrated with dozens of photographs, charts, tables and maps, the book is a compendium of 36 scientific papers written by. Acid mine drainage, rock drainage, and acid sulfate soils. Acid rock drainage analysis and testing services acid rock drainage ard also known as acid mine drainage amd describes the formation of acid when sulphidebearing mine wastes principally pyrite, but also pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite are exposed to oxidising conditions, typically in the presence of water, due. Major environmental incidents caused by acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage amd forms when sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite and marcasite, have been exposed to oxidizing conditions during mining and other excavation activities, such as highway. The mine is located on the eastern slope of the sierra nevada at about 7,000foot 2,100 m elevation, 6 miles 9. View table of contents for acid mine drainage, rock drainage, and acid sulfate soils. An in situ ftir study of galena and pyrite oxidation in aqueous solution. What can be done to prevent or clean up acid mine drainage. The most significant environmental impact from mines results from minerals that weather and release potentially harmful elements into water resources. The problem of acid rock drainage acid rock drainage ard, often referred to as acid mine drainage ard, can be defined as the drainage that occurs as a result of natural oxidation of sulphide minerals contained in rock which is exposed to air and water. A global crisis acid drainage is a littleknown global crisis.
Acid mine drainage overview acid rock drainage ard is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, chiefly iron pyrite or iron disulfide fes2. Pdf acid mine or acid rock drainage jorge g ibanez. Pdf acid mine drainage amd occurs after mining exposes metal sulfides to. Epa 600 modified sobek sample paste p h total s % acid. Acid mine drainage research acid mine drainage amd has been the subject of intensive research since the 1960s. Geological survey usgs in 2003 with the objective of better understanding geologic, geochemical, and hydrologic controls on naturally occurring acid. Acid mine drainage amd is typically characterized by low ph and high dissolved iron. Acidrock drainage at skytop, centre county, pennsylvania. If amd is predicted, planners must install control measures such as spoil handling plans, alkaline amendment, and covers.
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