Acid mine drainage and minesite salinity in Australia
Conference
·
OSTI ID:588881
Acid mine drainage and minesite salinity are, arguably, the most serious threats posed to the environment by open-cut mining and mineral processing. Acid mine drainage arises when sulphur, usually in pyrite form, contained in the ore and/or waste materials, is exposed to oxidation, the products of which are subsequently leached out by water as acid. As the pH of the system drops, bacteria begin to catalyse the chemical reactions, and any metals present go into solution. Open-cut mining and mineral processing activities also lead to the storage of water on the surface, where evaporation and leaching raise its salinity. At many mines in Australia in dry climates, soil covers over potentially acid generating waste rock dumps are being actively trialed. The aim is to maintain the soil cover in a saturated state by covering it with a sacrificial mulch of loose-dumped inert material. The mulch also serves to take up rainfall, preventing excessive runoff which may cause erosion of the soil cover. In the coalfields of Queensland, Australia, measured pH and salinity levels have been found to vary widely between minesites, within any given minesite, and with changing climatic conditions.
- OSTI ID:
- 588881
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9605286--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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