|
|
Perry, A., & Kleinmann, R. L. P. (1991). The use of constructed wetlands in the treatment of acid mine drainage. Natural Resources Forum, 15(3), 178–184.
Abstract: US government regulations require that all effluents from industrial operations, including mining, meet certain water quality standards. Constructed wetlands have proven to be useful in helping to attain those standards. Application of this biotechnology to mine water drainage can reduce water treatment costs and improve water quality in streams and rivers adversely affected by acidic mine water drainage from abandoned mines. Over 400 constructed wetland water treatment systems have been built on mined lands largely as a result of research by the US Bureau of Mines. Wetlands are passive biological treatment systems that are relatively inexpensive to construct and require minimal maintenance. Chemical treatment costs are reduced sufficiently to repay the cost of construction in less than a year. The mine waste water is typically treated in a series of excavated ponds that resemble small marsh areas. The ponds are engineered to facilitate bacterial oxidation of iron. Ideally, the water then flows through a composted organic substrate supporting a population of sulphate-reducing bacteria which raises the pH. Constructed wetlands in the US are described – their history, functions, construction methodologies, applicabilities, limitations and costs. -Authors
|
|
|
|
Pettit, C. M., Scharer, J. M., Chambers, D. B., Halbert, B. E., Kirkaldy, J. L., & Bolduc, L. (1999). Neutral mine drainage. In D. Goldsack, N. Belzile, P. Yearwood, & G. J. Hall (Eds.), Sudbury '99; mining and the environment II; Conference proceedings. Sudbury: Sudbury Environmental.
Abstract: Acid mine drainage is recognized as a serious environmental issue at mine sites world wide. While sulphate and metal concentrations in acidic drainage can reach exceptionally high levels, these can also be elevated and of concern in neutral drainage from waste rock and tailings. “Neutral mine drainage” (NMD) has not yet received as widespread attention as acid mine drainage (AMD). The oxidation of sulphide minerals and the production of either acidic or neutral contaminated drainage is affected by many factors. This paper examines the specific factors that result in the production of “neutral mine drainage” from mine wastes. Several case studies are presented which involve predictive geochemical modelling to illustrate the possible time frame and magnitude of contaminated neutral drainage.
|
|
|
|
Rabenhorst, M. C., & James, B. R. (1993). Acid mine drainage remediation via sulfidization in wetlands Fiscal year 1992 annual report.
|
|
|
|
Rees, B. (2005). An overview of passive mine water treatment in Europe. Mine Water Env., 24(1), 26–28.
|
|
|
|
Rees, B., Bowell, R., Dey, M., & Williams, K. (2001). Passive treatment; a walk away solution? Mining Environmental Management, 9(2), 7–8.
|
|
