The interaction of acid mine drainage with a carbonate terrane: evidence from the Obey River, north-central Tennessee

Abstract

The production of acidic drainage from active or abandoned coal mines is controlled by a complex series of reactions triggered by the oxidation of sulphide minerals. Limestone is frequently used as a neutralizing agent; neutralization occurs both through dissolution of the limestone and exsolution of carbon dioxide from the water. Demonstration of these processes in a natural system is provided by the East Fork of the Obey River, where acidic mine waters travel through conduits in limestone bedrock for several kilometers. Application of discharge-concentration relationships allows tracking of the evolution of these waters within the karst aquifer. Several trends are evident. Virtually all of the iron in the acid mine drainage is precipitated along the flow path within the limestone; the H + released during this reaction, together with the H + generated by pyrite oxidation, is largely neutralized by both exsolution of CO 2 and dissolution of calcite/dolomite in the carbonate bedrock (releasing calcium and magnesium). Nevertheless, the pH is still sufficiently low that all bicarbonate is converted to carbonic acid. Leaching of clay minerals by the acid waters releases small amounts of Al and Si; the species Cl −, F − and NO − 3 are more or less inert. The sulphate concentration substantially increases during evolution of the acid drainage; this seems to be related to an input of sulphate-enriched waters that have dissolved gypsum/anhydrite as they follow deep flow paths within the limestone. Calculations of the relative proportions of H + removed by reaction with calcite/dolomite and CO 2 degassing show that the latter is important in acidic waters that have reacted significantly with limestone and can readily lose CO 2 to the atmosphere. These results indicate that acid neutralization through carbonic acid dissociation, in addition to neutralization through dissolution of carbonates, is a useful method for the commercial a batement of acid mine drainage.