Determining the lime requirement for the Blackbird Mine spoil

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900010034x· OSTI ID:5569350

Sorensen, D L; Kneib, W A; Porcella, D B; Richardson, B Z

The production of acid from oxidation of pyritic inclusions in mineral mine spoil prevents the revegetation of the overburden and the amelioration of secondary environmental damage due to erosion and/or leaching of this toxic (soluble heavy metal-bearing) material. A total lime requirement must be determined and met in order to control existing acidity and to prevent reacidification as oxidation of pyritic materials in the mine spoil continues. The total lime requirement consists of the summation of the amount of ground limestone needed to neutralize the acidity present due to the buffer capacity of the soil, the acidity generated from complete oxidation of the sulfide-sulfur in the fine, highly reactive fraction (fine sand, silt, and clay-size particles) of the soil, and the oxidation of sulfide-sulfur exposed by weathering of large size material. Spoil samples from the Blackbird Mine, a copper-cobalt mine in east central Idaho, had a total lime requirement ranging from 44 to 72 metric tons of ground limestones per ha, 30 cm deep.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan
• OSTI ID: 5569350
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COBALT
COPPER
DATA
DATA FORMS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EROSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IDAHO
INFORMATION
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LAND RECLAMATION
LEACHING
LIMESTONE
METALS
MINERALS
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORES
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PH VALUE
PYRITE
PYRITES
RESERVOIR ROCK
REVEGETATION
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TABLES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA