Abstract
Characterization of mine waste rocks and prediction of acid mine drainage (AMD) play an important role in preventing AMD. Although high-tech analytical methods have been highlighted for mineral characterization and quantification, simple testing methods are still practical ways to perform in a field laboratory in mines. Thus, this study applied some simple testing methods to the characterization of mine wastes and AMD prediction in addition to a leaching test and the sequential extraction test with HCl, HF, and HNO3, which have not been applied for these purposes, focusing on the form of sulfur and the neutralization effects of carbonates. The results of the Acid Buffering Characteristic Curve test supported the changing trend of the pH attributing carbonates only during the first 10 leaching cycles in the leaching test. The change in the Net Acid Generating (NAG) pH in the sequential NAG test reflected the solubility of sulfur in the rocks, providing information on the form of sulfur in the rocks and the acid-producing potential over time. Consequently, the sequential NAG test and sequential extraction with the acids in combination with the current standards tests (Acid Base Accounting and NAG tests) provided important information for preventing AMD.
Highlights
Acid mine drainage (AMD), i.e., polluted acidic water, is formed from exposure of sulfide minerals from waste rocks that are excavated during mining operations to oxygen and water
AMD occurrence overrocks, time are source rocks based is achievable using sequential in combination with theused to estimate solely on the the pHtest tests, which are currently to and classify waste tests, which take into account the effects that the form of sulfur has on rocks
Changes in pH associated with AMD occurrence over time are difficult to estimate based solely on the net acid producing potential (NAPP) and Net Acid Generating (NAG) pH tests, which are currently used to classify waste rocks
Summary
Acid mine drainage (AMD), i.e., polluted acidic water, is formed from exposure of sulfide minerals from waste rocks that are excavated during mining operations to oxygen and water. Several options currently exist to treat AMD consequences, such as pH control via neutralization and wetland treatment [3,4]. These treatment processes are often expensive in terms of both capital and operating costs [5]. AMD preventive measures (e.g., sulfide mineral isolation and source rock desulfurization prior to backfilling [6,7]) play a more important role than post-treatment of acidic water because prevention reduces operating costs involved in the treatment activities as well as the amount of treated wastewater.
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