Evaluation of a surface application of limestone for controlling acid mine discharges from abandoned strip mines, Sewellsville, Ohio
A 150 acre drainage basin in an unreclaimed coal strip mine in east-central Ohio was studied and extensively monitored to determine the effect of a surface application of limestone on the ground water quality. Prior to the limestone treatment the ground and surface water of the basin was acidic due to pyrite oxidation in the spoil. In order to assess the effect of limestone application the basin was divided into seven sub-basins, five of which were treated. Various halide salts were also applied in order to ascertain the rate of ground water movement through the spoil. Twenty-six seeps draining the seven basins were monitored on a weekly basis for temperature, pH, acidity, alkalinity, conductivity and the tracers and once a month for sulfate. A recording rain gage was set up in the area and a weekly composite of precipitation was analyzed. The seeps from the sub-basins with low acid concentrations became alkaline due to neutralization but after a long dry period, they returned to their acid condition. The moderately and highly acidic seeps showed a decline in the acid concentrations which could be attributed to a combination of neutralization and a decrease in the rate of pyrite oxidation. The results of this field study and simultaneous laboratory experiments showed that the maximum amount of alkalinity that can be generated by a surface application of limestone is not sufficient to reduce the ground water acidity generated by pyrite oxidation. Additionally, the amount of limestone applied was not sufficient to significantly decrease the rate of pyrite oxidation nor provide neutralization and thereby produce neutral or alkaline discharges from the abandoned coal strip mine sites.
- OSTI ID:
- 6231123
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Acid drainage response to surface limestone layers
The impact of coal mining on water quality in Claybank creek, northern Missouri, USA
Related Subjects
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL MINES
CONTROL
EVALUATION
FEDERAL REGION V
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LIMESTONE
MINERALS
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
PYRITE
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEEPS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
USES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL