The geochemistry and hydrology of coal waste rock dumps: A systematic global review

Welch, Chani; Barbour, S. Lee; Hendry, M. Jim

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148798

Cited by 37 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 147 publications

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“…One of the major water quality issues arising as a result of mining activity is the oxidation of reduced minerals, such as pyrite, in the overburden. Oxidation of pyrite releases Fe 2+ and hydrogen ions, which acidify water, and produces sulfates and other ions (Welch et al 2021). However, this acidification may be neutralized by carbonate minerals and/or clay minerals present in the overburden (see Banks et al 1997; Schultze et al 2010 for a detailed description of the process).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Poláková

Straka

Polášek

et al. 2022

Restoration Ecology

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Many studies examining plant and terrestrial invertebrate communities have revealed the high conservation potential of spoil heaps. On the other hand, the freshwater communities inhabiting post-mining ponds within these human-made habitats are almost unexplored. We focused on aquatic macroinvertebrate, zooplankton, and phytoplankton communities in the littoral zones of 24 ponds situated on spoil heaps created after lignite mining in the Czech Republic. We compared environmental factors, taxa richness, and conservation value (number of threatened aquatic macroinvertebrate species) in the ponds, based on the type of restoration approach applied, that is, technical reclamation, spontaneous succession, and their combination (semi-spontaneous succession). While macroinvertebrate and zooplankton taxa richness did not differ significantly between the three types of pond, the phytoplankton community did, with the highest taxa richness recorded in technically established ponds. From a nature conservation point of view, the spontaneously developed ponds hosted almost twice as many threatened macroinvertebrates as the other ponds; nevertheless, even the technically constructed ponds hosted considerable populations of rare species, e.g. the regionally extinct beetle Limnebius nitidus (Marsham, 1802), and contributed to the overall conservation value of the spoil heaps. The most significant driver structuring post-mining pond freshwater communities was the percentage of vegetation in the littoral zone.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Poláková

Straka

Polášek

et al. 2022

Restoration Ecology

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“… , As a result, these mountain headwaters have less relief and more low gradient surfaces, which alters infiltration and runoff processes. , Geochemical processes are also altered when solid bedrock is removed and replaced with porous crushed waste rock. Waste rock dumps change the porosity and transmissivity of the system and increase the surface area and exposure of waste rock to air and water, enabling more rapid chemical weathering. ,, Changing mining practices, including the development of new technologies, treatments, and best managements also further complicate the landscape and runoff and infiltration mechanisms, including lag times that affect solute movement through waste rock. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO₃^–, and SO₄^2– into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA–Canada)

Storb,

Bussell,

Caldwell Eldridge

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Koocanusa Reservoir (KOC) is a waterbody that spans the United States (U.S.) and Canadian border. Increasing concentrations of total selenium (Se), nitrate + nitrite (NO 3 − , nitrite is insignificant or not present), and sulfate (SO 4 2− ) in KOC and downstream in the Kootenai River (Kootenay River in Canada) are tied to expanding coal mining operations in the Elk River Watershed, Canada. Using a paired watershed approach, trends in flownormalized concentrations and loads were evaluated for Se, NO 3 − , and SO 4 2− for the two largest tributaries, the Kootenay and Elk Rivers, Canada. Increases in concentration (SO 4 2− 120%, Se 581%, NO 3 − 784%) and load (SO 4 2− 129%, Se 443%, NO 3 − 697%) in the Elk River (1979−2022 for NO 3 − , 1984−2022 for Se and SO 4 2−) are among the largest documented increases in the primary literature, while only a small magnitude increase in SO 4 2− (7.7% concentration) and decreases in Se (−10%) and NO 3 − (−8.5%) were observed in the Kootenay River. Between 2009 and 2019, the Elk River contributed, on average, 29% of the combined flow, 95% of the Se, 76% of the NO 3 − , and 38% of the SO 4 2− entering the reservoir from these two major tributaries. The largest increase in solute concentrations occurred during baseflows, indicating a change in solute transport and delivery dynamics in the Elk River Watershed, which may be attributable to altered landscapes from coal mining operations including altered groundwater flow paths and increased chemical weathering in waste rock dumps. More recently there is evidence of surface water treatment operations providing some reduction in concentrations during low flow times of year; however, these appear to have a limited effect on annual loads entering KOC. These findings imply that current mine water treatment, which is focused on surface waters, may not sufficiently reduce the influence of mine-waste-derived solutes in the Elk River to allow constituent concentrations in KOC to meet U.S. water-quality standards.

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“…Acid mine drainage (AMD) has become a serious, worldwide environmental problem for river ecosystems caused by mining operations and abandoned coal mines [1,2]. Adverse effects on the abiotic and biotic components of rivers, including the destruction of aquatic life, bioaccumulation of toxic elements by organisms and plants, biodiversity loss, and the health of local residents, are observed for these areas [3][4][5][6]. AMD of abandoned coal mines is the source of river water pollution in the area of Moscow Brown Coal Basin and Kizel Coal Basin of Russia [7][8][9]; Tinto and Odiel Rivers in Spain [10]; Leonor and Pedras streams in a coal mining area (southern Brazil) [11]; rivers of Central Appalachian, Eastern State, and the Great Plains regions of the United States [12]; and many rivers in other regions [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Assessment Impact of Acid Mine Drainage from Kizel Coal Basin on the Kosva Bay of the Kama Reservoir (Perm Krai, Russia)

Ushakova

Menshikova

Blinov

et al. 2022

Water

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The Kosva Bay is permanently affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from Kizel Coal Basin in the Perm Krai of Russia. This discharge is released in the middle part of the Kosva River from the abandoned mines. This study investigates the current trace element (TE) concentrations for Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg and the mineral composition, major oxides, grain size of sediments, and acute toxicity using two test organisms within the site of AMD downstream from the Kosva River and up to the Kosva Bay of Kama Reservoir. The objectives of this study were to analyze the quality of sediment and level pollution of Kosva Bay using pollution and ecotoxicological indices. The environmental indices, namely the contamination factor (CF), the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and the potential ecological risk factor ( indicate contamination by Cr and Pb in sediments at the site of AMD, with the highest values for Cr, Cu, and As in the Kosva Bay sediments downstream of abandoned coal mines. The results of Igeo and CF average values in bay of sediments showed different degrees of contamination, from moderate contamination to considerable contamination, respectively. According to the potential ecological risk index (RI) values, the Kosva Bay sediments exhibited low to moderate risk, and As and Cd have the highest contribution rate. According to LAWA and the Polish geochemical classification of sediments, sediments of the bay correspond to the highest levels (IV–III classes) for Cr, Ni, and Hg. Based on the SQGC, Hg, Cd, Cr, and Ni are the most probable for resulting in adverse effects on aquatic organisms in this study. The results of this study indicate that complex pollution and ecotoxicological indices must be supported by ecotoxicologal tests. High precipitation totals, low evaporation rates, and flow regulation stream by the Shirokovsky Reservoir located upstream from abandoned coal mines provide significant fluctuations in streamflow, which is probably the most important factor controlling the distribution and mobility of TE in the studied sediments.

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The geochemistry and hydrology of coal waste rock dumps: A systematic global review

Cited by 37 publications

References 147 publications

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO₃^–, and SO₄^2– into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA–Canada)

Environmental Assessment Impact of Acid Mine Drainage from Kizel Coal Basin on the Kosva Bay of the Kama Reservoir (Perm Krai, Russia)

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The geochemistry and hydrology of coal waste rock dumps: A systematic global review

Cited by 37 publications

References 147 publications

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Unexplored freshwater communities in post‐mining ponds: effect of different restoration approaches

Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO3–, and SO42– into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA–Canada)

Environmental Assessment Impact of Acid Mine Drainage from Kizel Coal Basin on the Kosva Bay of the Kama Reservoir (Perm Krai, Russia)

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Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO₃^–, and SO₄^2– into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA–Canada)