Development of water resources of Appalachia. Volume 18. Appendix C. The incidence and formation of mine drainage pollution

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1969

OSTI ID:7284503

This document furnishes information on mine drainage pollution of Appalachian streams. Effluent from coal mining activities is the major source of water pollution in most of the Appalachian coal basin. The pollution problems result from mineral acidity created when pyritic material, exposed during mining, is oxidized and the products are dissolved and carried into streams and lakes. Erosion and resultant sedimentation of the streams and lakes is another pressing problem connected with mining. Other factors contributing to reduced water quality during and after mining, i.e., hardness and mineralization, are problems, but they do not appear to be as important as acidity and sediments.

• Research Organization: Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7284503
• Report Number(s): AD-A-041403
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
APPALACHIA
COAL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EROSION
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY