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Acid mine drainage refers to the surface runoff formed when rainwater comes in contact with either mine spoils (the reject from ore processing activities) or overburden (the material removed to get at the ore-bearing layer). It can also form when groundwater floods abandoned mine shafts, adits, and galleries underground. Spoil or overburden piles that have high levels of sulfide minerals and/or metals are especially problematic. In the presence of oxygen and with the help of microorganisms, high levels of metals and very acidic runoff (pH < 2 in some cases) is created, which results in acid mine drainage. This is a problem in parts of the country where high sulfur coal is mined (such as the East, e.g. WV and KY) as well as in areas of metals mining. Perhaps the most famous example of AMD is the Tar Creek Superfund Site, one of the oldest and largest in the country. It is located in Oklahoma and part of Missouri within the Tri-State Mining District - mostly lead and zinc minerals were mined there (former Picher field). It was formed in part due to the impacts of AMD following closure of the mine and cessation of water treatment. Sub-surface workings flooded with water, came into contact with sulfide minerals and waste piles, and greatly contaminated the local watershed, even threatening local groundwater supplies at one point. The area has yet to - and may never - fully recover.
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∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoSulfide ore still in the mine reacting with ground water and air from the tunnel/shaft/pit producing sulfuric acid. [e.g. 2 ZnS + 2 H2O + 3 O2 --> 2 Zn + 2 H2SO4] This acid mixes into the ground water and either drains from or accumulates in the mine. When it accumulates in the mine it can enter the aquifer, contaminating wells and springs supplied by the aquifer.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoAcid mine drainage is the low pH created by microorganisms convering sulfides and sulfates in tailing from the ore processing into sulfuric acid.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAcid mine drainage disrupts river and stream ecosystems by changing the pH of the water and the concentration of heavy metals.
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What has the author Barnaby Watten written?
Barnaby Watten has written: 'New technique treats acid mine drainage' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Environmental aspects, Environmental aspects of Acid mine drainage, Technology transfer
What has the author James I Sams written?
James I. Sams has written: 'Effects of coal-mine drainage on stream water quality in the Allegheny and Monongahela River basin -- sulfate transport and trends' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Coal mines and mining, Environmental aspects, Environmental aspects of Coal mines and mining, Sulfates 'Effects of coal-mine drainage on stream water quality in the Allegheny and Monongahela River basins' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Coal mines and mining, Environmental aspects, Environmental aspects of Coal mines and mining, Sulfates, Sulphates
What has the author A Perry written?
A Perry has written: 'Acid mine drainage - coal'
What has the author H R Preston written?
H. R Preston has written: 'Bioassay techniques' 'Effects of acid mine drainage on aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Monongahela River basin'
What has the author Eugene E Farmer written?
Eugene E Farmer has written: 'Acid mine waste revegetation' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Acid soils
What minerals causes acid mine drainage?
Coal, Gold, PBM,zinc,iron,lead
What has the author A H Morth written?
A. H Morth has written: 'Acid mine drainage' 'Pyritic systems'
What has the author Robert L P Kleinmann written?
Robert L. P. Kleinmann has written: 'Prevention of acid mine drainage' 'Treatment of mine water to remove manganese' 'Bactericidal control of acid problems in surface mines and coal refuse. IN Graves, D. H., editor, Proceedings--1980 symposium on surface mining hydrology, sedimentology, and reclamation' 'Control of acid drainage from coal refuse using anionic surfactants' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Coal mine waste, Industrial microbiology, Surface active agents 'Bacterial oxidation of acid-forming materials'
What has the author Qingyun Sun written?
Qingyun Sun has written: 'Iron and acid removal from acid mine drainage in open limestone systems'
What has the author William J Pegg written?
William J. Pegg has written: 'Physiological effects of sublethal levels of acid water on fish' -- subject(s): Acid mine drainage, Acids, Ecophysiology, Effect of water pollution on, Fishes, Physiological effect
What is mining water?
Acid mine drainage is the low pH created by microorganisms convering sulfides and sulfates in tailing from the ore processing into sulfuric acid.
What has the author B E Broster written?
B. E Broster has written: 'The application of Quaternary studies to mine development and control of acid mine drainage'
