Factors that influence coal mine drainage chemistry West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Coal mine drainage chemistry on the West Coast of the South Island is highly variable; pH ranges from about 2–8, and chemical concentrations vary by several orders of magnitude. Factors that influence mine drainage chemistry on the West Coast include regional geology, mine type, hydrogeology, and local geology. At a regional scale, mine drainage chemistry is bimodal and relates to geological formations. Mines within the Paparoa Coal Measures have neutral mine drainage, whereas those within the Brunner Coal Measures have acid mine drainage. This is related to the availability of SO4 during coal measures deposition and, in combination with Fe and organic material, the subsequent formation of pyrite during burial. Paparoa Coal Measures were deposited in alluvial to lucustrine environments where SO4 was relatively unavailable, whereas Brunner Coal Measures were deposited in alluvial to estuarine to marginal marine settings where marine SO4 was abundant. Brunner Coal Measures acid mine drainage chemistry is influenced by mine type; open cast mines have Al- and trace element-rich acid mine drainage compared to underground mines. Acid mine drainage forming reactions that release trace elements and Al proceed more rapidly and completely at open cast mines where mine waste has a higher reactive surface area compared to waste rock at underground mines. Brunner coal mine drainage chemistry is also influenced by hydrogeology where flooded underground mines release less acid than free-draining mines because there is less oxygen available to react with pyrite. In addition, local geology overprints mine drainage chemistry where differences in acid mine drainage chemistry arise from changes in contributing lithologies either within a single mine or between different coalfields. Identification of factors that control mine drainage chemistry enables prediction of mine drainage chemistry. These predictions have application to the mining industry for managing, mitigating, monitoring, and remediation of mine drainages that would otherwise cause negative environmental impact.