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Burt, R. A., & Caruccio, F. T. (1986). The effect of limestone treatments on the rate of acid generation from pyritic mine gangue. Environmental geochemistry and health, 8, 8.
Abstract: Surface water enters the Haile Gold Mine, Lancaster County, South Carolina by means of a small stream and is ponded behind a dam and in an abandoned pit. This water is affected by acidic drainage. In spite of the large exposures of potentially acid producing pyritic rock, the flux of acid to the water is relatively low. Nevertheless, the resulting pH values of the mine water are low (around 3.5) due to negligible buffering capacity. In view of the observed low release of acidity, the potential for acid drainage abatement by limestone ameliorants appears feasible. This study investigated the effects of limestone treatment on acid generation rates of the Haile mine pyritic rocks through a series of leaching experiments. Below a critical alkalinity threshold value, solutions of dissolved limestone were found consistently to accelerate the rate of pyrite oxidation by varying degrees. The oxidation rates were further accelerated by admixing solid limestone with the pyritic rock. However, after a period of about a month, the pyrite oxidation rate of the admixed samples declined to a level lower than that of untreated pyrite. Leachates produced by the pyrite and limestone mixtures contained little if any iron. Further, in the mixtures, an alteration of the pyrite surface was apparent. The observed behaviour of the treated pyrite appears to be related to the immersion of the pyrite grains within a high alkalinity/high pH environment. The high pH increases the rate of oxidation of ferrous iron which results in a higher concentration of ferric iron at the pyrite surface. This, in turn, increases the rate of pyrite oxidation. Above a threshold alkalinity value, the precipitation of hydrous iron oxides at the pyrite surface eventually outpaces acid generation and coats the pyrite surface, retarding the rate of pyrite oxidation.
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Campbell, A. (2000). Mitigation of acid rock drainage at the Summitville Mine Superfund Site, Colorado, USA. ICARD 2000, Vols I and II, Proceedings, , 1243–1250.
Abstract: Numerous techniques for treating, controlling, and preventing acid rock drainage have been applied at the Summitville Mine Superfund Site. Challenging aspects of the remote mine site include the wide-spread occurrence of acid-generating soils and rocks, extensive surface and underground mine workings, and a cold and wet climate. Water treatment was an immediate necessity when the Government took control of the abandoned site in December of 1992. Subsequent reclamation activities have emphasized prevention and control of ARD to minimize future water treatment requirements. A combination of conventional, innovative, and experimental methods are being applied to successfully mitigate ARD at Summitville.
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Carland, R. M. (1995). Use of natural sedimentary zeolites for metal ion recovery from hydrometallurgical solutions and for the environmental remediation of acid mine drainage. Proceedings of the Xix International Mineral Processing Congress, Vol 4, , 95–100.
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Catalan, L. J. J., & Yin, G. (2003). Comparison of calcite to quicklime for amending partially oxidized sulfidic mine tailings before flooding. Environ Sci Technol, 37(7), 1408–1413.
Abstract: Flooding partially oxidized mine tailings for the purpose of mitigating further oxidation of sulfide minerals and generation of acid drainage is generally preceded by treatment with alkaline amendments to prevent releasing previously accumulated acidity to the water cover. This work compares the ability of calcite (CaCO3) and quicklime (CaO), two common amendments, to establish and maintain pH conditions and dissolved metal concentrations within environmentally acceptable ranges over long time periods. Although higher initial pH values were obtained with quicklime, the pH of quicklime treated tailings decreased over time. This was attributed to the low buffering capacity of quicklime treated tailings and to the consumption of hydroxide ions by incongruent dissolution of water-insoluble iron oxyhydroxysulfate minerals. In contrast, the pH of tailings treated with calcite increased initially and then remained stable at pH approximate to 6.7. This pH behavior was due to the lower reactivity of iron oxyhydroxysulfates with calcite, the increased buffering capacity provided by bicarbonate ions, and the incomplete dissolution of calcite. Overall, calcite was found preferable to quicklime for maintaining long-term neutral pH conditions in the treated tailings. With the exception of zinc, acceptable dissolved metal concentrations were achieved with calcite treated tailings.
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Chen, M., Li, L., Grace, J., Tazaki, K., Shiraki, K., Asada, R., et al. (2007). Remediation of acid rock drainage by regenerable natural clinoptilolite. Water, Air, Soil Pollut., 180(1-4), 11–27.
Abstract: Clinoptilolite is investigated as a possible regenerable sorbent for acid rock drainage based on its adsorption capacity for Zn, adsorption kinetics, effect of pH, and regeneration performance. Adsorption of Zn ions depends on the initial concentration and pH. Adsorption/Desorption of Zn reached 75% of capacity after 1-2 h. Desorption depended on pH, with an optimum range of 2.5 to 4.0. The rank of desorption effectiveness was EDTAEDTA > NaCl > NaNO3 > NaOAc > NaHCO3 > Na2CO3 > NaOH > CeCa(OH)(2). For cyclic absorption/desorption, adsorption remained satisfactory for six to nine regenerations with EDTA and NaCl, respectively. The crystallinity and morphology of clinoptilolite remained intact following 10 regeneration cycles. Clinoptilolite appears to be promising for ARD leachate treatment, with significant potential advantages relative to current treatment systems.
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