The Potential for Waste‐Derived Materials to Form Soil Covers for the Restoration of Mine Tailings in Ireland

Smart, David; Callery, Sean; Courtney, Ronan

doi:10.1002/ldr.2465

Cited by 22 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…On the one hand, the industry produces economic benefits, however on the other hand, it causes serious contamination to the environment [4]. The environmental issues around mining areas are primarily related to mining-related surface disturbance [5], tailings waste pile production [6], dust pollution [7], and acid mine drainage (AMD) [8]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migration and Fate of Acid Mine Drainage Pollutants in Calcareous Soil

Liu

Qiao

Zhou

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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As a major province of mineral resources in China, Shanxi currently has 6000 mines of various types, and acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major pollutant from the mining industry. Calcareous soil is dominant in western North China (including the Shanxi Province), therefore, clarifying the migration behavior of the main AMD pollutants (H+, S, Fe, heavy metals) in calcareous soil is essential for remediating AMD-contaminated soil in North China. In this study, the migration behavior of the main pollutants from AMD in calcareous soil was investigated using soil columns containing 20 cm of surficial soil to which different volumes of simulated AMD were added in 20 applications. Filtrate that was discharged from the soil columns and the soil samples from the columns were analyzed. Almost all of the Fe ions (>99%) from the AMD were intercepted in the 0–20 cm depth of the soil. Although >80% of SO42− was retained, the retention efficiency of the soil for SO42− was lower than it was for Fe. Cu, as a representative of heavy metals that are contained in AMD, was nearly totally retained by the calcareous soil. However, Cu had a tendency to migrate downward with the gradual acidification of the upper soil. In addition, CaCO3 was transformed into CaSO4 in AMD-contaminated soil. The outcomes of this study are valuable for understanding the pollution of calcareous soil by AMD and can provide key parameters for remediating AMD-contaminated soil.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migration and Fate of Acid Mine Drainage Pollutants in Calcareous Soil

Liu

Qiao

Zhou

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…The addition of organic amendments such as compost and sewage sludge helps improve soil properties (Jorba & Andrés, ). Several authors (Andrenelli et al, ; Smart, Callery, & Courtney, ; Sort & Alcañiz, ; Zhang et al, ) have reported positive effects on soil porosity, available water content, soil aggregation, and bulk density after application of biochar, domestic organic waste, sewage sludge, and so on. Organic matter plays an important role in aggregation and other soil structure‐related properties (Luna et al, ; Six, Bossuyt, Degryze, & Denef, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic amendments and mulches modify soil porosity and infiltration in semiarid mine soils

et al. 2017

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The restoration of soils affected by mining activities depends on the improvement of soil physical quality. This study aimed to determine the medium‐term effects of organic amendments and mulches on soil physical properties and soil hydrological response. The experimental restoration was conducted in a homogeneous slope using a factorial design (organic amendments × mulches). The organic amendments consisted of compost from domestic organic residues, sewage sludge from an urban water treatment facility, and a control without amendment. The mulches consisted of gravel, woodchips, and a control without mulch. Modifications of the soil structure induced by the combinations of techniques were quantified by micromorphometric analysis of 2D porosity. Undisturbed soil cores were collected to determine the soil bulk density. Soil hydrological behaviour was determined by rainfall simulations. Samples from natural undisturbed soils surrounding the quarry were also taken as a reference. Restored soils with organic amendments have a higher total porosity than did nonamended substrates. Each restoration treatment combination resulted in a different pore system with very diverse hydrological responses. Organic amendments resulted in infiltration improvement and water erosion reduction. The woodchip mulch was more effective at trapping runoff and sediment, although this type of mulch did not favour vertical water movement towards deeper horizons. Therefore, the use of organic amendments should be encouraged in mine soil restoration and should be strongly recommended for its proven environmental benefits (enhancement of soil structure and infiltration and reduction of soil losses). However, the mulches did not produce the expected results in the tested arid–semiarid area.

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“…High alkalinity and abundant alkaline groups appear to mainly restrain soil formation and land rehabilitation on BRDAs. Environmental management of BRDAs have commonly focused on containment and alkalinity neutralized or removed by artificial trials (Courtney, Jordan, & Harrington, ; Goloran et al, ; Smart, Callery, & Courtney, ), with less attention given to long‐term evolution of the electrochemical properties of alkalinity following disposal, particularly, natural rehabilitation strategy. Currently, almost all BRDAs in China are left to natural weathering processes (Zhu, Xue, et al, ; Zhu, Zhou, et al, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of alkaline electrochemical characteristics demonstrates soil formation in bauxite residue undergoing natural rehabilitation

et al. 2017

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Mining and mineral processing industries have generated a large amount of polymineral wastes, causing the destruction and degradation of huge areas of landscapes at extensive geographical locations. Rehabilitation of these mine waste landscapes is critical to social and economic sustainability of mining and metallurgy operations, such as alumina refineries. The Bayer process to refine alumina generates large amounts of highly alkaline bauxite residues that are hazardous to plant growth. Innovative methodologies are urgently needed to address this economic and environmental challenges, one of which is soil formation from bauxite residues. Mineral weathering appears the prerequisite to the initiation of soil formation and development of functional soil properties in bauxite residue disposal areas. The present study investigated natural changes of mineralogy, zeta potential, isoelectric point, surface protonation, active alkaline groups, and associated implications for rehabilitation of the bauxite residue disposal area. Alkaline calcite, hydrogarnet, and sodalite minerals were slowly transformed or dissolved with declining levels over weathering time. Amorphous and semiamorphous minerals also decreased with a corresponding decrease in specific surface area and sorption sites. Zeta potential curve of fresh residue had steeper slope than those of aged residues. The isoelectric point of fresh residue was significantly higher, but those of aged residues were significantly lower, with a significant decrease of isoelectric point with increasing time. These attributes in mineralogy and electrochemical characteristics such as transformation of alkaline minerals, and decreases of surface protonation and active alkaline groups, may be used to help the assessment of soil formation status in the bauxite residues of different age and associated rehabilitation requirements.

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The Potential for Waste‐Derived Materials to Form Soil Covers for the Restoration of Mine Tailings in Ireland

Cited by 22 publications

References 47 publications

Migration and Fate of Acid Mine Drainage Pollutants in Calcareous Soil

Migration and Fate of Acid Mine Drainage Pollutants in Calcareous Soil

Organic amendments and mulches modify soil porosity and infiltration in semiarid mine soils

Development of alkaline electrochemical characteristics demonstrates soil formation in bauxite residue undergoing natural rehabilitation

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