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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Inactive and abandoned underground mines: water pollution prevention and control

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5797705

The following topics are discussed in Part I of the report: the chemistry and geographic extent of mie drainage pollution in the United States from inactive and abandoned underground mines; underground mining methods; and the classification of mine drainage control techniques. Control technology was developed mainly in the coal fields of the eastern United States and may not be always applicable to other regions and other mineral mining. Available at-source mine drainage pollution prevention and control techniques are described and evaluated in Part II of the report and consist of five major categories: water infiltration control; mine sealing; mining techniques; water handling; and discharge quality control. This existing technology is related to appropriate cost data and practical implementation by means of examples. A summary of the mineral commodities mined in the United States follows Part II and relates to type, locale and environmental effects. A list of minerals, mineral formulas, glossary and extensive bibliography are included.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5797705
Report Number(s):
EPA-440/9-75-007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English