Reducing oxidation of pyrite through selective reclamation practices

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5447790

Erickson, P M; Kleinmann, R L.P.; Campion, P S.A.

Reclamation efforts concentrating on establishing vegetation frequently fail to control discharge of acid mine water from surface mines and coal refuse areas. A proposed method of combining control of acid drainage and establishment of vegetation is to use the plant-soil zone to produce a low-oxygen environment in the underlying pyritic material. Oxygen consumption by plant roots, soil biota and organic material decay and oxygen diffusion barriers formed by fine-grained material provide potential means of limiting the oxygen available for pyrite oxidation. Detailed studies of field relationships among pyrite oxidation, reclamation treatments and subsurface oxygen profiles are being conducted at an experimental refuse area and an abandoned surface mine. Preliminary results from unreclaimed refuse areas indicate that significant oxygen concentrations are limited to the uppermost meter of material. A shallow, near-surface oxygenated zone was also found at the experimental refuse area in plots subjected to various reclamation treatments. Soil moisture sample pH values from the plots are generally consistent with pyrite oxidation being limited to the oxygenated zone. The effects of thirteen reclamation treatments on subsurface oxygen and water quality profiles are being investigated. It is anticipated that a better understanding of factors influencing the oxidation of pyrite on reclaimed land will improve selection of appropriate reclamation techniques.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5447790
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FIELD TESTS
GROWTH
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LAND RECLAMATION
MINERALS
MINING
OXIDATION
PLANT GROWTH
POLLUTION
PYRITE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVEGETATION
SPOIL BANKS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE MINING
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY