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Effects of sulphuric acid pollution on the biology of streams in the Transvaal, South Africa

Abstract

Strongly acid effluents or drainage waters are produced during gold and coal mining activities in the Transvaal. Sulphuric acid is produced during oxidation of pyrites exposed by mining operations and much of it finds its way into streams and creates serious pollution problems. The object of this paper is to give a short account of the effects of this acid pollution on the biology of these streams. The first streams considered are the Klip and Klipspruit near their confluence at Olifantsvlei, near Johannesburg. These were studied during a two-year investigation of the area. Both receive acid pollution from gold mine dumps and slimes dams, the seepages from which have pH values as low as 2.3. Both streams run over dolomite formations so the acid is gradually neutralised but highly mineralised, permanently hard water results. The Klip and the Klipspruit join in the middle of a y-shaped, swampy area, each stream coming down one of the upper arms of the y. A sampling station was set up on each where it runs slowly through the swamp just before confluence.
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1958
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
EDB-84-005677
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Verh. - Int. Ver. Theor. Angew. Limnol.; (Germany, Federal Republic of); Journal Volume: 13
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; ACID MINE DRAINAGE; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; ACIDIFICATION; STREAMS; BIOLOGY; COAL MINING; GOLD; MINING; PH VALUE; SOUTH AFRICA; SULFURIC ACID; WATER POLLUTION; AFRICA; ECOSYSTEMS; ELEMENTS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; INORGANIC ACIDS; METALS; POLLUTION; SURFACE WATERS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; 520200* - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 010900 - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Environmental Aspects
OSTI ID:
5673065
Country of Origin:
Germany
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: CODEN: IVTLA
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: 603-610
Announcement Date:
Aug 01, 1983

Citation Formats

Harrison, A D. Effects of sulphuric acid pollution on the biology of streams in the Transvaal, South Africa. Germany: N. p., 1958. Web.
Harrison, A D. Effects of sulphuric acid pollution on the biology of streams in the Transvaal, South Africa. Germany.
Harrison, A D. 1958. "Effects of sulphuric acid pollution on the biology of streams in the Transvaal, South Africa." Germany.
@misc{etde_5673065,
title = {Effects of sulphuric acid pollution on the biology of streams in the Transvaal, South Africa}
author = {Harrison, A D}
abstractNote = {Strongly acid effluents or drainage waters are produced during gold and coal mining activities in the Transvaal. Sulphuric acid is produced during oxidation of pyrites exposed by mining operations and much of it finds its way into streams and creates serious pollution problems. The object of this paper is to give a short account of the effects of this acid pollution on the biology of these streams. The first streams considered are the Klip and Klipspruit near their confluence at Olifantsvlei, near Johannesburg. These were studied during a two-year investigation of the area. Both receive acid pollution from gold mine dumps and slimes dams, the seepages from which have pH values as low as 2.3. Both streams run over dolomite formations so the acid is gradually neutralised but highly mineralised, permanently hard water results. The Klip and the Klipspruit join in the middle of a y-shaped, swampy area, each stream coming down one of the upper arms of the y. A sampling station was set up on each where it runs slowly through the swamp just before confluence.}
journal = []
volume = {13}
journal type = {AC}
place = {Germany}
year = {1958}
month = {Jan}
}