Mine Water

Mine associated wastewater is characteristically elevated in metals and other contaminants and has been conventionally treated with costly chemical applications. The development of passive treatment systems such as wetlands, which employ both biotic and abiotic processes, has been recognized as an economically feasible, ecologically acceptable treatment technology in the last decade. Not only can constructed wetlands provide an efficient facility

mine operations in the early 1970s. For example, the West Virginia legislature passed a law in 1971 requiring Acid-base accounting (ABA) is an analytical procedure that promine operators to show in the permit "the presence of vides values to help assess the acid-producing and acid-neutralizing any acid-producing materials, which, when present, may potential of overburden rocks prior to coal mining and other largecause minesoils with a pH of less than 3.5 and prevent scale excavations. This procedure was developed by West Virginia University scientists during the 1960s. After the passage of laws requir-effective revegetation" (West Virginia Department of ing an assessment of surface mining on water quality, ABA became a Mines and Minerals, 1971). Dr. Richard M. Smith and preferred method to predict post-mining water quality, and permitting his associates at West Virginia University, in conjuncdecisions for surface mines are largely based on the values determined tion with the existing West Virginia coal regulatory by ABA. To predict the post-mining water quality, the amount of agency, began working on a procedure to identify acidacid-producing rock is compared with the amount of acid-neutralizing producing materials in 1965 (Perry, 1998). Throughout rock, and a prediction of the water quality at the site (whether acid the late 1960s and 1970s, the procedure was refined or alkaline) is obtained. We gathered geologic and geographic data and termed acid-base accounting (ABA) (Smith et al., for 56 mined sites in West Virginia, which allowed us to estimate 1976). Acid-base accounting was originally designed to total overburden amounts, and values were determined for maximum distinguish layers in the overburden that could be used potential acidity (MPA), neutralization potential (NP), net neutralization potential (NNP), and NP to MPA ratios for each site based on as topsoil substitutes or as hard durable rock for valley ABA. These values were correlated to post-mining water quality fills. Since the method identified both acid-producing from springs or seeps on the mined property. Overburden mass was and acid-neutralizing materials in the overburden, this determined by three methods, with the method used by Pennsylvania method was one of the earliest technologies available researchers showing the most accurate results for overburden mass. to predict the quantity of acid-producing materials prior A poor relationship existed between MPA and post-mining water to mining (Grube et al., 1973; Skousen et al., 1990; West quality, NP was intermediate, and NNP and the NP to MPA ratio Virginia University, 1971). Since the late 1970s and the showed the best prediction accuracy. In this study, NNP and the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation NP to MPA ratio gave identical water quality prediction results.

This paper presents the results of a study on stream and mine waters in the area of the largest porphyry copper deposit in the Apuseni Mountains (western Romania), the Rosia Poieni ore deposit. The research was focused on two aspects of environmental impact: (1) evaluation of the release of toxic elements into the environment through studying the mineralogical and chemical composition of the ore deposit; and (2) assessment of the distribution and extent of contamination through studying the chemistry of stream waters. This work proved that the Rosia Poieni mine is an active acidrock drainage (ARD)-producing site. Waters draining freely from the ore deposit are acidic and transport large amounts of toxic elements (Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, Sr, etc.). The weathering of silicate and ore minerals represents an important source of elements. Their release was determined by speciation calculations using an EQ3/6 computer program. Keywords Acid-rock drainage AE Mineral weathering AE Open-pit mine AE Romania AE Sulphides

During the 1990s, passive treatment technology was introduced to the United Kingdom (UK). Early hesitancy on the part of regulators and practitioners was rapidly overcome, at least for net-alkaline mine waters, so that passive treatment is now the technology of choice for the long-term remediation of such discharges, wherever land availability is not unduly limiting. Six types of passive systems are now being used in the UK for mine water treatment:

Acid mine waters have the potential to seriously impair the environmental quality of aquatic systems long after mining activities have ceased. This detailed study of dissolved and particulate metal fluxes from adits, drains and streams in the River Tamar catchment, southwest England, showed that seven specific sources, of the 25 adits and streams surveyed, accounted for more than 75% each of the 13 t a − 1 Fe, 4.3 t a − 1 Mn, 4.2 t a − 1 Cu, 3.6 t a − 1 Zn and 1.4 t a − 1 As that we estimated to be discharged annually from the abandoned metalliferous mining area centred around Calstock and Gunnislake. Upstream of this study area, widespread multi-metallic mineralisation contributed to the flux of Fe, Mn, As, Co, Cu and Zn within the River Tamar. Simple mass balance calculations indicated that a large proportion (≥ 50% for most dissolved and particulate metals) of the metal flux in the River Tamar was unaccounted for by our survey, and therefore is likely to have an important diffuse component, which is subject to ongoing investigations. Potential impacts of mine contamination on the estuarine environment are discussed. The study provided information necessary to prioritise monitoring and remediation efforts in the context of sustainable catchment management.

In the match factor, mining activity between the haulers and loader equipment dramatically affects each fleet's production. The purpose of this study is to simulate the sufficient number of transportation uses as an effort to achieve production targets using queuing theory. The research methods are quantitative and descriptive by analyzing the compatibility value of fleet, fleet production capability, queue number, and queue time. The data required is the time of the distribution, the distance from the mining front to the ROM, and the company's speed limit. The results of this research are beneficial to users of the transporter simulation to be applied based on the theory of the queue is six transport units in the Anggrek pit with a compatibility value of 1.01, five transport units in the Dahlia pit with compatibility value 0.98, and five units of transport in the pit Anggrek with compatibility value 1.04. The haulers' recommendations were made by allocating two haulers ...

This paper outlines various analytical techniques for mine water inflow estimation incorporating several refinements such as finite boundary conditions, linear, fracture and turbulent flow conditions to pumping wells and underground excavations. These modifications enable practical mining to be simulated and therefore, permit more accurate predictions of mine inflow quantities. Application of these techniques are given together with the scope of the application.

The Hoya de Baza stands out for having several underground
galleries that, in some cases, were designed as qanāt-s. They
usually have small dimensions and were built for different
purposes. They are often dug in soft marls areas, without
maintenance and shoring structures, thus their extreme fragility
that risked them to completely quickly disappear after remaining
abandoned and disused. We have had the possibility
to meet one of its last masons, though it is a technology that
goes back a long time ago, and some might have be planned
originally in al-Andalus times.

Three acidophilic enrichment consortium were developed from mine water sample of copper mine site at Khetri, India were compared for their copper leaching efficiency. Out of these one was mesophilic (35°C) and two were moderately thermophilic (50°C). Consortia were named as mesophilic acidophilic chemolithotrophic consortia (MACC), thermophilic acidophilic chemolithotrophic consortia (TACC), and Sulfobacillus acidophilic consortia (SAC). Copper extraction ability of both the thermophilic consortia (77-78% extraction) was almost double to that of mesophilic consortia (40% extraction) at 10% pulp density after 55 days. Both the thermophilic consortia were equally effective in leaching of other metals like Ni, Co, Zn, Mn. After 55 days, the percentage of extractions of copper by TACC was 76, 74, 67, 48 and 45 at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% pulp density, respectively. Total number of bacteria was maximum at 5% pulp density which decreases with increase in pulp density. Sulfobacillus-like bacteria were seen in the Sulfobacillus enrichment cultures. Moderately thermophilic consortia proved to be better in leaching performance than the mesophilic counterpart.

 Contaminative mine drainage waters have become one of the major hydrogeological and geochemical problems arising from mankind's intrusion into the geosphere. Mine drainage waters in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom are of three main types: (1) saline formation waters; (2) acidic, heavy-metal-containing, sulphate waters derived from pyrite oxidation, and (3) alkaline, hydrogen-sulphide-containing, heavy-metal-poor waters resulting from buffering reactions and/or sulphate reduction. Mine waters are not merely to be perceived as problems, they can be regarded as industrial or drinking water sources and have been used for sewage treatment, tanning and industrial metals extraction. Mine-water problems may be addressed by isolating the contaminant source, by suppressing the reactions releasing contaminants, or by active or passive water treatment. Innovative treatment techniques such as galvanic suppression, application of bactericides, neutralising or reducing agents (pulverised fly ash-based grouts, cattle manure, whey, brewers' yeast) require further research.

Europe was once the most important mining region in the world and nearly every European country has remnants of historic and even pre-historic mining sites. Though the importance of mining activities in most European countries declines, the abandoned sites are still there and can cause environmental dangers as well as technological challenges. On the basis of selected European countries and case studies, these dangers and challenges are described and potential solutions are illustrated.

Editorial handling by Dr. R. Fuge a b s t r a c t Acid mine drainage represents a major source of water pollution in the Lousal area. The concentrations of trace metals and the rare earth elements (REE) in the host rocks, stream sediment, surface waters and acid mine drainage (AMD) associated with abandoned mine adits and tailings impoundments were determined, in order to fingerprint their sources and to understand their mobility and water-rock interaction. The results show that the Fe-SO 4 -rich acid waters vary substantially in composition both spatially and seasonally. These waters include very low pH (mostly in the range 1.9-3.0), extreme SO 4 concentrations (4635-20,070 mg L À1 SO 2À 4 ), high metal contents (Fe, Al, Cu, Zn and Mn) and very high REE contents. The trace metal concentrations decrease downstream from the discharge points either due to precipitation of neoformed phases or to dilution. The North-American shale composite (NASC)-normalized patterns corresponding to sediment from one stream (Corona stream) show a flat tendency or are slightly enriched in light-REE (LREE). The NASC-normalized patterns corresponding to acidic mine waters show enrichment in the middle REE (MREE) with respect to the LREE and heavy REE (HREE). Moreover, the REE concentrations in acidic mine waters are 2 or 3 orders of magnitude higher than those of the surface waters. Changes of REE concentrations and variation of Eu anomaly show two spatially distinct patterns: (a) pond and spring waters with higher REE concentrations (ranging from 375 to 2870 lg L À1 ), that records conspicuous negative Eu anomaly, and (b) seeps from tailings impoundments corresponding to lower REE concentrations than the first pattern (ranging from 350 to 1139 lg L À1 ) with typically negative Eu anomaly. The stream water samples collected from the impacted stream during the spring show a low pH (2.8-3.1) and contain high concentrations of Fe and trace elements (up to 61 mg L À1 ). Also, temporal variations of the REE concentrations were observed in the Corona waters. The results obtained show that the REE concentrations increase during the winter-spring transition. Stream waters draining the Lousal mine area show high REE concentrations, reaching a maximum value of about 2846 lg L À1 (spring). The MREE concentrations are usually enriched with respect to both the LREE and HREE. A decrease in REE concentrations and a pH increase from 3 to 6 was observed downstream of the confluence of a tributary stream.

Algae Fungi Bioremediation Natural alkalinity generation Carbon source a b s t r a c t Passive remediation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a popular technology under development in current research. Roles of algae and fungi, the natural residents of AMD and its attenuator are not emphasized adequately in the mine water research. Living symbiotically various species of algae and fungi effectively enrich the carbon sources that help to maintain the sulfate reducing bacterial (SRB) population in predominantly anaerobic environment. Algae produce anoxic zone for SRB action and help in biogenic alkalinity generation. While studies on algal population and actions are relatively available those on fungal population are limited. Fungi show capacity to absorb significant amount of metals in their cell wall, or by extracellular polysaccharide slime. This review tries to throw light on the roles of these two types of microorganisms and to document their activities in holistic form in the mine water environment. This work, inter alia, points out the potential and gap areas of likely future research before potential applications based on fungi and algae initiated AMD remediation can be made on sound understanding. (J. Bhattacharya). A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / w a t r e s 0043-1354/$ -see front matter ª

In a qualitative assessment of mine water from the Raniganj coalfield, 77 mine water samples were analyzed to assess water quality and suitability for domestic, industrial, and irrigation uses. The pH of the mine water ranged from 6.5 to 8.8. Total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 171 to 1,626 mg L−1; spatial differences between the TDS values reflect variations in lithology, activities, and prevailing hydrological regime. The anion chemistry was dominated by HCO3− and SO42−. On average, Cl− contributes 10 and 19% of the total anionic balance, respectively, in the Barakar and Raniganj Formation mine water. F− and NO3− contribute <2% to the total anions. The cation chemistry is dominated by Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the mine water of the Barakar Formation and Na+ in the Raniganj Formation mines. Much of the mine water, especially of the Barakar Formation area, has high TDS, total hardness, and SO4 concentrations. Concentrations of some trace metals (i.e. Fe, Cr, Ni) were found to be above the levels recommended for drinking water. However, the mine water can be used for irrigation, except at some sites, especially in the Raniganj Formation area, where high salinity, sodium adsorption ratio, %Na, residual sodium carbonate, and excess Mg restrict its suitability for agricultural uses.

The last decade has witnessed a plethora of research related to the hydrogeochemistry and microbiology of acid mine waters and associated tailings and waste-rock waters. Numerous books, reviews, technical papers, and proceedings have been published that examine the complex biogeochemical process of sulfide mineral oxidation, develop and apply geochemical models to site characterization, and characterize the microbial ecology of these environments. This review summa rizes many of these recent works, and provides references for those investigating this field. Compar isons of measured versus calculated Eh and measured versus calculated pH for water samples from several field sites demonstrate the reliability of some current geochemical models for aqueous speciation and mass balances. Geochemical models are not, however, used to predict accurately timedependent processes but to improve our understanding of these systems and to constrain possible processes that contribute to actual or potential water quality issues. Microbiological studies are demonstrating that there is much we have yet to learn about the types of different microorganisms and their function and ecology in mine-waste environments. A broad diversity of green algae, bac teria, archaea, yeasts, and fungi are encountered in acid mine waters, and a better understanding of their ecology and function may potentially enhance remediation possibilities as well as our under standing of the evolution of life.

Hand-pump wells in the Tarkwa gold mining district and the geologically similar Bui area were chemically analysed and compared in an effort to determine whether groundwaters in the Tarkwa area have been affected by mining. Significant chemical differences attributed to mine water discharges have been observed in streams in the Tarkwa area. Groundwater chemistry from handpump wells in Tarkwa and Bui areas reveal similar hydrochemical facies, predominantly Ca-Na-Mg-HCO 3 -Cl. However, except for SO 4 2) , ionic concentrations of groundwaters from Bui are greater than those from Tarkwa probably due to differences in (1) water availability during sedimentation (2) water-rock interactions and/or residence times for water. No demonstrable impact of mining on groundwaters from hand-pumped wells in the Tarkwa area has been noted. Hydrogeological inference suggests that the main streams which receive mine water discharges are both gaining and are groundwater divides. The overwhelming majority of population centres and mining operations are located on opposite sides of these groundwater divides, therefore, it is unlikely aquifers tapped for drinking by these communities would be affected by mining.

The Hoya de Baza stands out for having several underground galleries that, in some cases, were designed as qanāt-s. They usually have small dimensions and were built for different purposes. They are often dug in soft marls areas, without maintenance and shoring structures, thus their extreme fragility that risked them to completely quickly disappear after remaining
abandoned and disused. The historical accounts shows that many of them were built in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th
centuries, though it is a technology that goes back a long time ago, and some might have be planned originally in al-Andalus
times.

Acidic mine water draining from the West Rand Mining Basin first daylighted in late-August 2002. Initial estimates of the decant volume ranged between 7 ML/d in winter and 12.5 ML/d in summer. Recent estimates put the rate of decant between 18 and 36 ML/d with a pH of ~3.0 and electrical conductivity (EC) of ~550 mS/m, compared to the pH of ~8.0 and EC of <30 mS/m of ambient karst groundwater. The acid mine drainage (AMD) that daylights is collected and contained in various holding facilities, from where it is pumped to a treatment plant for neutralization and iron removal. The Krugersdorp Game Reserve lies immediately downslope of the locus of AMD. Other potential receptors of AMD include neighbouring smallholdings and, further afield, the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

A review of existing legislation in the light of recent major dam failures (Aznalcóllar, Spain, 1998; Baia Mare, 2000, Romania) highlights the need to develop appropriate regulations at the regional, national, and European Union (EU) levels. Although mining incidents as a result of dam failures are very conspicuous, chronic problems related to waters from mining voids and tailings are also very significant. In that sense, though mine waters are an integral part of the water cycle, they are rarely regulated as such.

Anlass dieser Zusammenstellung von Reinigungsverfahren für Grubenwasser war das Deutsch-Tschechische Gemeinschaftsprojekt VODAMIN. Dieses hatte sich zum Ziel gesetzt, die Auswirkungen der Bergbauaktivitäten auf die Wasserqualität von Grund- und Oberflächenwässern zu untersuchen. Innerhalb des Arbeitspaketes 4 sollten Reinigungsverfahren für Grubenwasser vorgestellt und wenn möglich bewertet werden. Ziel dieser Publikation ist daher, auf eine Reihe von Verfahrensweisen zur Beurteilung von Grubenwasser einzugehen. Es werden die derzeit bekannten Methoden und Systeme zur Reinigung von Grubenwasser vorgestellt. Zunächst wird in einem Überblick dargelegt, was Grubenwasser ist, wie es klassifiziert werden kann und wie eine korrekte Probenahme zu erfolgen hat. Danach folgt eine Zusammenstellung der bekannten Methoden zur Reinigung von Grubenwasser, basierend auf der international üblichen Einteilung in aktive und passive Verfahren, (kontrollierte) natürliche Selbstreinigung sowie In-situ-Maßnahmen. Am Ende findet sich eine Darstellung von alternativen Nutzungsmöglichkeiten für aufgelassene Bergwerke, die auf das Grubenwasser abzielt. Eingestreute, glossenartige Beiträge beleuchten mögliche Fallstricke der Probenahme oder des Managements.
Dazu wurden etwa 3000 Publikationen zum Thema Grubenwasserreinigung sorgfältig studiert und darauf basierend eine Zusammenstellung aller wichtigen, derzeit bekannten Verfahren gegeben. Ein umfassendes Literaturverzeichnis mit über 900 Einträgen erlaubt es dem Leser, weitergehende Informationen einzuholen. Da der Zugang zu Literatur individuell verschieden ist, gibt es zu jedem Verfahren stets mehrere Zitate, sodass in jedem Fall wenigstens eine Publikation zum Nachlesen gefunden werden sollte.
Bislang ist es nur eingeschränkt möglich, anhand der Wasseranalyse eine exakte Bemessung des Reinigungssystems zu planen. Daher sind vor einer Vollinstallation oftmals Laborversuche und Pilotanlagen notwendig, um die optimale Anlagenkonfiguration zu ermitteln. Künftige Forschungen und Entwicklungen sollten daher auf ein optimiertes Prozessverständnis abzielen, um dem Ziel einer integrierten Grubenwasserreinigung näherzukommen. Dazu könnte auch das „Internet of Mine Water“ beitragen (siehe Abschnitt 1.1), in dem alle relevanten Komponenten des Grubenwassermanagements zusammengefasst sind.
Zur Planung einer Grubenwasserreinigungsanlage ist eine zuverlässige und korrekte Probenahme mit Volumenströmen und Vor-Ort-Parametern unerlässlich. Obwohl es keine allgemein anerkannte Verfahrensweise gibt, haben sich Firmenstandards eingespielt, die weitgehend auf nationalen oder internationalen Standards beruhen. Einige Parameter sind grundsätzlich bei jeder Probenahme zu ermitteln, wohingegen andere nach Bedarf ermittelt werden können.
Insgesamt werden zwölf Gruppen von aktiven Reinigungsverfahren vorgestellt, die derzeit angewendet werden oder in fortgeschrittenen Entwicklungsstadien sind. Darunter befinden sich die Neutralisation, elektrochemische Verfahren, Membrananwendungen und einige bislang weniger bekannte Methoden. Auf spezielle Varianten, die meist aus patentrechtlichen Gründen zum Einsatz kommen, sich aber nur minimal von anderen Verfahren unterscheiden, wird dabei nicht eingegangen. Von den passiven Verfahren werden elf vorgestellt. Dabei handelt es sich beispielsweise um Carbonatkanäle, konstruierte Feuchtgebiete, permeable reaktive Wände und reduzierende Alkalinitätssysteme. Verfahren, die bislang nur an einem oder zwei Standorten zum Einsatz kamen oder sich in einem sehr frühen Entwicklungsstadium befinden, bleiben dabei weitgehend unberücksichtigt. Drei alternative Methoden, die ein erhebliches Entwicklungspotenzial aufweisen, leiten über zu In-situ-Maßnahmen in Tagebauen und Untertagebergwerken. Zu den alternativen Methoden zählen (kontrollierte) natürliche Selbstreinigung, Änderung der Abbaubedingungen oder die im Anfangsstadium stehenden biometallurgischen Verfahren. Von den In-situ-Methoden werden die unterschiedlichen In-lake-Verfahren sowie die Rückspülung von Reststoffen näher beschrieben.
Abschließend folgt eine Zusammenstellung von alternativen Nutzungsmöglichkeiten. Diese sind aufgeteilt in Nutzung der aufgelassenen Bergwerke selbst und Nutzung der Reststoffe, die bei der Grubenwasserreinigung anfallen.

Unlike the majority of the water in the flooded mine complex of Butte Montana, which includes the highly acidic Berkeley pit lake, groundwater in the flooded West Camp underground mine workings has a circum-neutral pH and contains at least 8 mM aqueous sulfide. This article examines the geochemistry and stable isotope composition of this unusual H 2 S-rich mine water, and also discusses problems related to the colorimetric analysis of sulfide in waters that contain FeS (aq) cluster compounds. The West Camp mine pool is maintained at a constant elevation by continuous pumping, with discharge water that contains elevated Mn (90 mM), Fe (16 mM), and As (1.3 mM) but otherwise low metal concentrations. Dissolved inorganic carbon in the mine water is in chemical and isotopic equilibrium with rhodochrosite in the mineralized veins. The mine water is under-saturated with mackinawite and amorphous FeS, but is supersaturated with Cu-and Zn-sulfides. However, voltammetry studies show that much of the dissolved sulfide and ferrous iron are present as FeS (aq) cluster molecules: as a result, the free H 2 S + HS À concentration of the West Camp water is poorly constrained. Concentrations of dissolved sulfide determined by colorimetry were lower than gravimetric assays obtained by AgNO 3 addition, implying that the FeS (aq) clusters are not completely extracted by the Methylene Blue reagent. In contrast, the clusters are quantitatively extracted as Ag 2 S after addition of AgNO 3 . Isotopic analysis of co-existing aqueous sulfide and sulfate confirms that the sulfide was produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The H 2 S-rich mine water is not confined to the immediate vicinity of the extraction well, but is also present in flooded mine shafts up to 3 km away, and in samples bailed from mine shafts at depths up to 300 m below static water level. This illustrates that SRB are well established throughout the southwestern portion of the extensive (>15 km 3 ) Butte flooded mine complex.

The Ervedosa Mine, in north-eastern Portugal, has Sn-bearing quartz veins containing cassiterite and sulphides that cut Silurian schists and a Sn-bearing muscovite granite. These veins were mined for Sn and As 2 O 3 until 1969. Cassiterite, the main Sn ore, has alternate lighter and darker growth-zones. The darker zones are richer in Fe, Nb, Ta and Ti, but poorer in Sn than the adjoining lighter zones. Exsolution blebs of ferrocolumbite, manganocolumbite, Ti ixiolite, rutile, ilmenite and rare wolframite were found in the darker zones. Arsenopyrite is the most abundant sulphide and contains inclusions of pyrrhotite, bismuth, bismuthinite and matildite. Other sulphides are pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and stannite. Secondary solid phases consisting mainly of hydrate sulphate complexes of Al, Fe, Ca and Mg (aluminocopiapite, copiapite, halotrichite, pickeringite, gypsum and alunogen, meta-alunogen) occur at the surface of the Sn-bearing quartz veins and their wall rocks (granite and schist), while oxides, hydroxides, arsenates and residual mineral phases (albite, muscovite and quartz) occur in mining tailings. Toxic acid mine waters (acid mine drainage AMD), which have high conductivity and significant concentrations of As, SO 4 and metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cd, Ni and Co), occur in an area directly affected by the mine. Surface stream waters outside this area have low conductivity and a pH that is almost neutral. Metal and As concentrations are also lower. Stream waters within the impact area have an intermediate composition, falling between that of the AMD and the natural stream waters outside impact area. Waters associated directly with mineralised veins must not be used for human consumption or agriculture.

Coal mining is one of the core industries that contribute to the economic development of a country but deteriorate the environment. Being the primary source of energy coal has become essential to meet the energy demand of a country. It is excavated by both opencast and underground mining methods and affects the environment, especially water resources, by discharging huge amounts of mine water. The mine water may be acidic or neutral depending upon the pyrite content in the coal as inorganic impurities. Acid mine drainage occurs in those mines in which sulphur content is found in the range of 1-5% in the form of Pyrite (FeS 2). It degrades the water quality of the region in terms of lowering the pH of the surrounding water resources and increasing the level of total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and some heavy metals. In non acidic mines, water quality shows high hardness, TSS and bacterial contaminants. The leachate water from overburden dump are found enriched in metal concentration especially Fe, Cu, Mn and Ni except in one of the clayey dumps. High values of hardness of mine water reduces it's utility in domestic purposes. The article illustrates the quality of acidic and non acidic mine water and leachate characteristics of opencast coal mining OB dumps. Pollutants such as TSS, TDS, oil and grease and heavy metal are found in the coal mining waste effluents. Management of these liquid waste at the primary level and secondary level have also been suggested to control the pollution level at the source.

Pencegahan air asam tambang (AAT) dapat dilakukan dengan melakukan upaya covering material yang berpotensi membentuk AAT (Potentially Acid Forming/PAF) dengan menggunakan material yang tidak berpotensi (Non Acid Forming/NAF). Sehingga dapat menghentikan atau mengurangi kontak antara mineral besi sulfida dengan udara dan/atau air. Namun, keberadaan material NAF seringkali tidak ditemukan dalam jumlah yang banyak untuk dapat mengisolasi seluruh material PAF. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan material lain sebagai alternatif dalam pencegahan pembentukan AAT. Salah satu material yang memiliki potensi untuk dapat digunakan yakni fly ash dan bottom ash yang merupakan hasil pembakaran batubara di PLTU. Sebuah penelitian dilakukan dengan beberapa variasi campuran fly ash dan bottom ashserta pelapisan material fly ash terhadap material PAF. Hasil pengujian leachate pada kolom pencampuran bottom ash diperoleh nilai pH yang berfluktuasi dengan rentang 4-7. Pada kolom pencampuran fly ash, nilai pH cenderung stabil pada rentang 8-9. Sedangkan pada kolom pelapisan fly ash (10%) diperoleh nilai pH sebesar 9,5 dan terus turun hingga pH sebesar 2,5 di akhir penelitian. Pada kolom pelapisan fly ash (20% dan 30%), nilai pH di akhir penelitian stabil pada kisaran nilai 6. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa dengan penambahan Fly ash dan bottom ash dapat meningkatkan nilai pH, menurunkan nilai DHL, serta TDS air lindian hasil oksidasi mineral dalam batuan. Penambahan fly ash juga dapat memperkecil laju infiltrasi air melalui material, sedangkan bottom ash dapat memperbesar laju infiltrasi karena ukuran yang cukup besar. Kata kunci:air asam tambang,fly ash, bottom ash

Surface mine development and underground mine working below piezometric level invariably change the hydraulic gradient, thus affecting ground and surface water flow and water quality. The presence of water in mining sites creates a range of operational and stability problems and requires a drainage plan to avoid slope stability problem, oxidation of metallic sulfides and corrosion of mining machinery and

Measurements of ambient radiation doses and determination of radionuclide concentrations in mining waste and soils were performed in 60 areas of former radium and uranium mining. In several places, mining waste and low-grade uranium ore left on the surface contain radioactivity above regional background. Most of the former mining sites present no enhanced radionuclide concentrations. However, in the mining facilities where the radioactive ore was chemically extracted, mill tailings contain materials with elevated levels of radioactivity, up to 200 times the levels in unaffected soils of the region. Mud from neutralization ponds used to treat acid mine waters contains also elevated radionuclide concentrations. Furthermore, depending on the type of waste, the radioelement composition varies. Environmental rehabilitation measures shall take these differences into account in order to prevent in the long term the radioactive contamination of agriculture soils and water resources, and to ensure adequate radiological protection to the public and to the environment.

A water resource development study has been carried out for a proposed lignite mining area at Bhavnagar district of Gujarat state in India. This work is essentially a case study that uses standard methodology already applied in earlier research studies. The study covers assessment of water resources for the present and future, water balance status and formulation of a management and conservation strategy for the area. Ramdasiya watershed is considered as influencing zone having 31.92 km 2 area and covering full or part of ten villages with 13 647 population. There is no perennial river or major surface water bodies in the study area and annual average rainfall is only 567 mm. The groundwater is generally potable. Annual utilisable groundwater resource available in the area is 3.30 hm 3 and present annual ground water demand for area is 2.967 hm 3 , whereas annual demand for various uses in the year 2010 and 2020 would be around 3.298 and 3.659 hm 3 , respectively. The above problem of water scarcity in the region has to be mitigated by immediate initiation of suitable short-and long-term water supply augmentation strategy for enhancing the groundwater recharge. To reduce the heavy surface runoff loss (around 40% of rainfall, although some part of it is also utilized as consumptive used) and enhance the groundwater recharge capacity of the area, suitable water retaining structures should be constructed. Interbasin transfer of water is also required to artificially recharge the aquifers for the augmentation of the groundwater potential of the area so as to meet the future demands.

This study covers the geochemical investigations on water and stream sediments to evaluate the influence from the abandoned Kalecik Hg mine. The groundwater samples (S5, S8, S9, WW10) are neutral, slightly alkaline waters which have pH values varying between 7.3 and 7.5. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of groundwaters for spring samples are low (250-300 mSycm). However, groundwater obtained from a deep well has a higher EC value of 950 mSycm. Hg concentrations of groundwater samples vary between 0.01 and 0.13 mgyl. Hg concentrations of other water samples taken from mining area from surface waters and adits are between 0.10 and 0.99 mgyl. Adit water (A4) collected at the mine has the highest Hg content of 0.99 mgyl and a pH of 4.4. Trace element concentrations of mine water samples show variable values. As is observed only in MW1 (310 mgyl). A4 was enriched in Cd, Co and Cr and exceed the Turkish drinking water standards (Turk Standartları Enstitusu, 1997). Cu concentrations varÿb etween 6.0 and 150 mgyl and are below the Turkish water standards. Mn concentrations in mine waters are between 0.02 and 4.9 mgyl. Only for sample A4 Mn value (4.9 mgyl) exceeds the standard level. Ni was enriched for all of the mine water samples and exceeds the safe standard level (20 mgyl) for drinking water. Of the major ions SO 4 shows a notable increase in this group reaching 650 mgyl that exceeds the drinking water standards. Stream sediment samples have abnormally high values for especially Hg and As, Sb, Ni, Cr metals. With the exception of sample Ss6 of which Hg concentration is 92 mgykg, all the other samples have Hg contents of higher than 100 mgykg. Pollution index values are significantly high and vary between 69 and 82 for stream sediment samples. ᮊ

The chemical characteristics of surface, groundwater and mine water of the upper catchment of the Damodar River basin were studied to evaluate the major ion chemistry, geochemical processes controlling water composition and suitability of water for domestic, industrial and irrigation uses. Water samples from ponds, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater were collected and analysed for pH, EC, TDS, F, Cl, HCO3, SO4, NO3, Ca, Mg, Na and K. In general, Ca, Na, Mg, HCO3 and Cl dominate, except in samples from mining areas which have higher concentration of SO4. Water chemistry of the area reflects continental weathering, aided by mining and other anthropogenic impacts. Limiting groundwater use for domestic purposes are contents of TDS, F, Cl, SO4, NO3 and TH that exceed the desirable limits in water collected from mining and urban areas. The calculated values of SAR, RSC and %Na indicate good to permissible use of water for irrigation. High salinity, %Na, Mg-hazard and RSC values at some sites limit use for agricultural purposes.

A review of existing legislation in the light of recent major dam failures (Aznalcóllar, Spain, 1998; Baia Mare, 2000, Romania) highlights the need to develop appropriate regulations at the regional, national, and European Union (EU) levels. Although mining incidents as a result of dam failures are very conspicuous, chronic problems related to waters from mining voids and tailings are also very significant. In that sense, though mine waters are an integral part of the water cycle, they are rarely regulated as such.

Benzene-1,3-diamidoethanethiol (BDETH 2 ) is an exceptional precipitant for removing soft heavy metals from water. The present work will detail the bonding arrangement of BDETH 2 to the metals Cd, Hg, and Pb, along with the full characterization data of the BDET−M compounds. It was found that the Hg compound has a linear S−M−S geometry. The characterization data consisted of Mp, EA, IR, Raman, MS, XANES, EXAFS, and solid-state multinuclear NMR. Krepps, M. K.; Atwood, D. A. Water Res. 2000, 34, 3005. (2) Matlock, M. M.; Howerton, B. S.; van Aelstyn, M. A.; Henke, K. R.; Atwood, D. A. Water Res. 2003, 37, 579. (3) Matlock, M. M.; Howerton, B. S.; van Aelstyn, M. A.; Nordstrom, F. L.; Atwood, D. A. EnViron. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 1636. (4) Matlock, M. M.; Howerton, B. S.; Atwood, D. A. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2002, 41, 1579. (5) Matlock, M. M.; Howerton, B. S.; Robertson, J. D.; Atwood, D. A.

Carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) as a water-soluble metal-binding polymer in combination with ultrafiltration (UF) was used in a hybrid approach for selective removal and recovery of copper from water. In the complexation-UF process the cationic forms of heavy metals were first ...

Arsenic sulfide (AsS (am), As2S3 (am), orpiment, and realgar) oxidation rates increase with increasing pH values. The rates of arsenic sulfide oxidation at higher pH values relative to those at pH˜2 are in the range of 26 4478, 3 17, 8 182, and 4 10 times for As2S3 (am), orpiment, AsS (am), and realgar, respectively. Numerical simulations of orpiment and

Phyllite powders of the fraction 63-200 µm, predominantly composed of quartz, chlorite, muscovite, and albite, were measured with transmission mössbauer spectroscopy (TMS) before and after conducting batch sorption experiments. The TMS spectra revealed that the amount of ferric iron increased in the course of the batch experiments by approximately 3 %. This increase in ferric iron, together with a concomitant color change from grayish green to grayish-reddish brown, was related to structural oxidation of ferrous iron within and at the surface of chlorite, one of the mineralogical constituents of phyllite, leading eventually to the formation of the iron oxyhydroxide mineral ferrihydrite.

This paper presents results from in vitro flask and flume experiments using freshwater
biofilms sourced and cultivated from a mine-impacted stream in North Yorkshire, UK. Flask experiments
showed the rapid uptake of Zn from the water column into biofilms. This uptake was
not light dependant and suggests chelation of Zn by negatively charged functional groups in
extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted within the biofilm are the key sink for Zn. Long
term monitoring of flume systems also showed area adjusted removal rates up to
1.2 g Znm⁻²day ⁻¹ which is consistent with many other biologically-mediated treatment systems.

The coal mining industry has to dispose of millions of litres of water every day. This water forms main source of various water supplies in the thickly populated coalfields. In this study, water samples from major coalfields were collected and analysed in an attempt to reflect the impact of mining on water quality in these areas. Various physico-chemical characteristics of mine waters as analysed include pH, alkalinity/acidity, specific conductivity, hardness, total solids, sulphate, chloride iron and trace materials. This investigation reveals that mining activity, markedly pollute the mine waters. Mine waters are of highly complex nature and of widely varying composition. These are nearly neutral, alkaline, mildly acidic and highly acidic in nature. Special emphasis on water quality deterioration due to acid mine drainage which result in significant concentration levels of tract (toxic) metals, is given. A classification of these mine waters is also made.