The Key Factor of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the History of the Contribution of Mining Industry to the Prosperity of the United States and South Africa: A Review

Abstract

Mining industry has significantly contributed to the prosperity of the nation with economic growth, whereas mining operation has caused Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) with the abandonment of mines. As some researchers suggest, the history of AMD is, generally, affected by the change in not only mining industry but also in social and economic conditions. Thus, historical analysis is an effective way to find the key factors of AMD. In this study, in order to find the key factors of AMD, we examine the history of the United States (U.S.) and South Africa, where their economy had been developed owing to the large-scale mining, based on the findings in the previous studies. The results indicated that the abandoned mines due to the economic depression triggered AMD in the U.S. and South Africa. While the U.S. had progressively adopted anti-AMD methods in terms of prevention, prediction, and remediation (PPR) as a comprehensive approach, especially since the 1970s onwards because of the rise of environmental consciousness as well as strict regulations, South Africa is at the early stage of implementing the regulations following PPR. The public attention should be directed to environmental conservation in addition to the implementation of the regulations in South Africa. The improvement in socioeconomic conditions is, additionally, necessary for the rise of environmental consciousness in South Africa in the light of the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic, and environmental elements.

The removal of turbid materials from AMD using bentonite clay, Fe or Al salt, MgCO3 and flocculent with varying agitations

“…The type of wastewater treated in this study (AMD) contains low toxic metals and high turbidity due to TSS and TDS materials derived from various sources; for example, tailings piles or ponds, mine waste dumps and coal spoils (Matsumoto et al 2016). However, the AMD sample contains high concentration of naturally-occurring metals such as Fe, Al, Na, Ca, Mg and Mn.…”

Characterization of Mine Waste and Acid Mine Drainage Prediction by Simple Testing Methods in Terms of the Effects of Sulfate-Sulfur and Carbonate Minerals

“…Acid mine drainage (AMD), i.e., polluted acidic water, is formed from exposure of sulfide minerals from waste rocks that are excavated during mining operations to oxygen and water. Several previous studies reported that AMD is a serious, global environmental issue that occurs during and/or after mining activity [1,2]. Several options currently exist to treat AMD consequences, such as pH control via neutralization and wetland treatment [3,4].…”

Governance and socio-political issues in management of acid mine drainage in South Africa

“…The characteristics of the released AMD include low pH, high electrical conductivity, increased concentrations of iron, aluminium and manganese and higher concentrations of toxic heavy metals. The acid so produced dissolves salts and mobilises heavy metals from mine workings (Matsumoto et al, 2016). This results in dark, reddish-brown water, with pH values as low as 2.5 persisting at many sites, which not only affects the availability of freshwater resources but is also detrimental to ecological resources.…”

“…Although not widely reported in South Africa, elsewhere in the United States high acidity in rivers has in the past resulted in the death of fish in the Appalachian area and California. Further investigations in the 1980s revealed that 10% of streams in the Appalachian region were indeed polluted by AMD (Matsumoto et al, 2016). In terms of land resources, in South Africa it was once reported that the flooding of an abandoned mine in Randfontein, near Johannesburg, the biggest city in Gauteng, created a number of AMD hotspots leading to farmers failing to grow crops in the affected areas (Chiluwe, 2015).…”