Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the mid-Atlantic region. AMD is
caused when water flows over or through sulfur-bearing materials forming solutions of net acidity
. AMD comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining.
How does acid rock drainage happen?
It’s a result of
sulphur-containing compounds in the rock reacting with air and water
, causing the formation of sulphuric acid. It gets worse: That acid can then leach heavy metals out of the rock, which can get into nearby watercourses.
What causes acid mine drainage in South Africa?
The major culprits are the
coal and gold mines
, and because of their location in the upper portions of the Vaal River catchment, their footprint on the water supply is huge. Aside from metal and acid pollution, the major problem is the increase in dissolved salts into the Vaal River.
Why is acid mine drainage such an environmental hazard?
This acid leaches out metals in the rock, which can enter nearby streams, rivers or seep into groundwater. Acid mine drainage and metal leaching are a particular concern
because they can continue indefinitely
, causing environmental damage long after the mine operation has ended.
What mining creates acid mine drainage?
The most commonly mined ore of copper, chalcopyrite, is itself a copper-iron-sulfide and occurs with a range of other sulfides. Thus,
copper mines
are often major culprits of acid mine drainage.
Where does acid mine drainage occur in South Africa?
The mining heyday is now over, but a few mines in Gauteng Province are still operational. These mines lie in three basins:
the Western, Central and Eastern basins, in the area around Johannesburg
.
How is acid mine drainage prevented?
Some common methods include: Reclamation of contaminated land by (1)
adding lime or other alkaline materials to neutralize the acidity
, and (2) adding uncontaminated top soil, planting vegetation, and modifying slopes to stabilize the soil and reduce infiltration of surface water into underlying contaminated material.
What is the threat of acid mine drainage?
Acid drainage polluted stream merges with unpolluted stream downstream from California’s Jamestown mine. Acid mine drainage is one of mining’s most serious threats to water. A mine draining
acid can devastate rivers, streams, and aquatic life for hundreds
, and under the “right” conditions, thousands of years.
Is acid mine drainage point source or nonpoint source?
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is generally a
non-point-source water pollutant
. It is the acidic water that drains out of above-ground or under-ground coal and metal mines.
What mining companies can solve the problem of acid mine drainage?
The most prevalent method for treating AMD contamination is the addition of alkaline reagents such as lime, limestone, sodium carbonate or
sodium
hydroxide. This treatment aims at neutralizing acidic water and the precipitation of heavy metals.
What is the root cause of acid mine drainage quizlet?
Mine contains
metal sulphide
that react to form sulphuric acid solution with dissolved metals. After mining started, the rain exposed the sulphide and caused the drainage to contaminate the water, sediments, and ground water. …
How Acid mine drainage affects water quality?
As a result of its acidity, AMD
dissolves rock material and may contain a range of toxic metals
. Water can become saline when AMD is neutralised through its reactions with rocks and, when mixing with other resources, can contaminate underground and surface waters.
What is acid drainage and where does it come from in a mining context Why can such drainage be toxic to fish?
In a nutshell, acid mine drainage is a form of water pollution that
happens when rain, runoff, or streams come in contact with rock that is rich in sulfur
. … Other harmful elements like lead, copper, arsenic, or mercury may also be stripped from the rocks by the acidic water, further contaminating the stream.
What is point source and nonpoint source?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines point source pollution as
any contaminant that enters the environment from an easily identified and confined place
. … Nonpoint-source pollution is the opposite of point-source pollution, with pollutants released in a wide area.
How can communities affected by acid mine drainage be helped?
There are many methods already available or in the pipeline, ranging from using microbes to building faux-wetlands to ion exchange in order to remove sulphur, heavy metals, and increase
pH
, allowing water to be discharged and/or used for human consumption.
What is acid drainage and where does it come from in a mining context quizlet?
What is acid drainage and where does it come from in a mining contex?
Strip mining exposes sulfide minerals, which react with oxygen and water to produce sulfuric acid
. This enters waterways, creating acid mine drainage.
What is a nuclear chain reaction quizlet?
Nuclear Chain Reactions. -it is
when absorption of a neutron causes nucleus to break apart
. ~lots of energy released. ~released neutrons can then be absorbed by other nuclei.
How does acid mine drainage damage nearby streams and groundwater?
Acid mine drainage can
change the color of a stream into red or orange
. … As the iron settles out of the water, it can form red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams. The acidic runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as copper, lead, mercury into groundwater or surface water.
What is the purpose of mountaintop removal?
Michael Hendryx: Mountaintop removal is a form of surface coal mining. As the name suggests, it literally
removes up to 800 feet off the tops of mountains to try to reach coal seams that are not accessible by other mining techniques
because the terrain is too steep or the veins are too thin.
How does saltwater intrusion occur quizlet?
Saltwater intrusion occurs
when saltwater mixes with freshwater and contaminates well water
. … This happens when too many wells are drilled an the water pressure is lowered allowing the saltwater to move into the aquifer.
What is acid mine drainage and how it affects human and environment?
Acid mine drainage is
the most significant environmental pollution problem associated with mining industry
. … The low pH value of the discharge mine water results in the further dissolution of minerals and release of toxic metals, when it allowed getting discharge into other water bodies.
What are primary and secondary air pollutants?
Primary & Secondary pollutant. Definition: A primary pollutant
is an air pollutant emitted directly from a source
. A secondary pollutant is not directly emitted as such, but forms when other pollutants (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere.
What is the main difference between point and non point pollutants?
The main difference between point source and nonpoint source pollution is that
the point source pollution occurs through a specific, identifiable source whereas the nonpoint
source pollution occurs through a combination of pollutants from a large area.
What are the two primary pollutants involved in non point source pollution where do these nutrients originate?
Nonpoint sources of nutrients often originate from
agricultural activities
. Excess nutrients applied to crops in the form of fertilizers are washed away in runoff, typically during rainstorms. Nutrients also originate from urban and suburban areas, from sources such as lawn fertilizers, and even pet wastes.
