Environmentally sustainable acid mine drainage remediation: Research developments with a focus on waste/by-products

Moodley, Ileshree; Sheridan, Craig; Kappelmeyer, Uwe; Akçıl, Ata

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2017.08.008

Cited by 152 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Overall, mining EISs in our sample assessed impacts further past closure than other EISs, and all of the mining EISs we investigated planned one or a combination of mitigation measures to prevent or treat AMD, such as lime treatment, containment and capping of acid‐generating rocks, and tailings pond management. Recent scientific reviews of AMD treatment, however, indicate that theoretically effective prevention measures are difficult to implement in practice (they require perfect conditions and full knowledge of mine shafts), remediation techniques are prone to failure without upkeep and monitoring, design inaccuracies and implementation errors at the scale of operational mines often limit effectiveness, and the long‐term efficacy of mitigations are unknown (Li et al, 2018; Moodley, Sheridan, Kappelmeyer, & Akcil, 2018; Naidu et al, 2019). Indeed, the mining EISs we reviewed all include water quality monitoring programs, partly because of the risk that AMD poses despite mitigation efforts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific shortcomings in environmental impact statements internationally

Singh

Lerner²,

Mach

et al. 2020

People and Nature

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1. Governments around the world rely on environmental impact assessment (EIA) to understand the environmental risks of proposed developments.2. To examine the basis for these appraisals, we examine the output of EIA processes in jurisdictions within seven countries, focusing on scope (spatial and temporal), mitigation actions and whether impacts were identified as 'significant'.3. We find that the number of impacts characterized as significant is generally low.While this finding may indicate that EIA is successful at promoting environmentally sustainable development, it may also indicate that the methods used to assess impact are biased against findings of significance. To explore the methods used, we investigate the EIA process leading to significance determination. 4. We find that EIA reports could be more transparent with regard to the spatial scale they use to assess impacts to wildlife. We also find that few reports on mining projects consider temporal scales that are precautionary with regard to the effects of mines on water resources. Across our sample of reports, we find that few EIAs meaningfully consider the different ways that cumulative impacts can interact. 5. Across countries, we find that proposed mitigation measures are often characterized as effective without transparent justification, and sometimes are described in ways that render the mitigation measure proposal ambiguous.6. Across the reports in our sample, professional judgement is overwhelmingly the determinant of impact significance, with little transparency around the reasoning process involved or input by stakeholders.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific shortcomings in environmental impact statements internationally

Singh

Lerner²,

Mach

et al. 2020

People and Nature

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“…The reactive measure of dealing with AMD/ARD is very complex and expensive, whereas the proactive is more effective [12][13][14][15][16]. Developing proactive strategies in dealing with AMD/ARD problem requires prediction using appropriate tools which help to better control AMD/ARD before major excavations.…”

Section: Prediction Of Amd/ardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acid Drainage Potential of Rocks in South-Western Ghana

Ofori-Sarpong¹

2019

IJEPP

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The generation of acid in reactive sulphide-containing rocks is a major global problem confronting advanced countries, and serving as a wake-up call for developing countries like Ghana. South-western Ghana hosts two major gold belts, which house ten large-scale mining companies, several small-scale mining companies, farms and other activities. The presence of sulphur in the rocks, coupled with the land disturbances stemming from the activities mentioned above, suggests the potential for uncontrolled acid generation. These have thus generated interest in studies on mapping out the acid generating potential of these areas, so that proactive steps can be taken to prevent acid mine drainage. In this study, several samples were taken from mine waste, mineralised waste and ore from a mine concession in Ghana, and subjected to mineralogical, geochemical and Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) studies. Mineralogical studies reported about 75% quartz while carbonates, feldspars, pyroxene, sericites and chlorites accounted for 25% of samples tested. Polish sections showed pyrite content of up to 5% while arsenopyrite accounted for 1%. The results from geochemical and Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) passed 31% of the samples as non-sulphidic, whereas 20% had sulphur content above 0.5%. The sulphur content in excess of 0.5% gives an indication that the rock can generate acid. Analysis of paste pH confirmed that about 80% of the samples were neutral to basic (i.e. pH 6.5-8.5). Further analysis using Net Neutralising Potential (NNP) and ratios of Maximum Neutralisation Potential to Acid Production Potential (NP: AP) placed 35% of the samples as having the potential to generate acid since the NNPs were negative, while the NP: AP had values less than 1. This 35% had the capacity to significantly deteriorate natural water quality. The study concludes that there is a great potential for AMD generation in south-western Ghana, and this calls for periodic monitoring and development of proactive neutralising strategies to arrest the situation.

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“…Here, new tailings are held in a temporary storage area before being returned to the OTD site following upgrade of the dam walls and lining. Residues from BIOX ® and Fe-precipitation should be considered for further valorization; e.g., use of Fe-oxides and/or gypsum as part of a tailings cover design or pigment recovery (see [62]); all waste waters from mineral processing will need to be appropriately disposed).…”

Section: Future Tailings Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Geometallurgical Approach to Tailings Management: An Example from the Savage River Fe-Ore Mine, Western Tasmania

Parbhakar-Fox¹,

Glen²,

Raimondo³

2018

Minerals

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At the Old Tailings Dam (OTD), Savage River, Western Tasmania, 38 Mt of pyritic tailings were deposited (1967 to 1982) and have since been generating acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD). Mineral chemistry analysis confirmed high concentrations of refractory cobalt in pyrite (up to 3 wt %). This study sought to determine, through a series of bench scale tests, if Co could be liberated using biohydrometallurgical techniques. Four bulk tailings samples were collected across the OTD, from up to 1.5 m depth, targeting three sulphide-bearing facies. The study was conducted in four stages: (1) bacterial adaption using BIOX® bacteria; (2) biooxidation optimization with pH, temperature and Fe medium parameters tested; (3) flotation test work to produce a sulphide concentrate followed by biooxidation; and (4) Fe and Co precipitation tests. The BIOX® culture adapted to the bulk composite (containing 7 wt % pyrite) in ~10 days, with biooxidation occurring most efficiently at pH 1.5–1.6 and 40 °C whilst the Fe medium concentration was identified as a less-controlling parameter. Flotation produced a 71% pyrite concentrate with total oxidation occurring after 14 days of biooxidation with 99% of Co leached. At pH 3, Co was effectively separated from Fe, however Ni and Cu were also present in the pregnant liquor solution and therefore required refining before production of cobalt hydroxide, the intermediate saleable product. This study shows that adopting a geometallurgical approach to tailings characterisation can identify if mine waste has commodity potential and how best to extract it therefore unlocking the potential for unconventional rehabilitation of AMD affected sites.

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Environmentally sustainable acid mine drainage remediation: Research developments with a focus on waste/by-products

Cited by 152 publications

References 84 publications

Scientific shortcomings in environmental impact statements internationally

Scientific shortcomings in environmental impact statements internationally

Acid Drainage Potential of Rocks in South-Western Ghana

A Geometallurgical Approach to Tailings Management: An Example from the Savage River Fe-Ore Mine, Western Tasmania

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