Use of Acid-Base Accounts in Premining Prediction of Acid Drainage Potential: A New Approach from Northern West Virginia

diPretoro, R. S.; Rauch, Henry W.

doi:10.21000/jasmr88010002

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…As indicated by others (Brady et al, 1994), MPA by itself is not the critical parameter for predicting post‐mining water quality, nor is it expected to be a reliable predictor. On the other hand, an NP of <20 was suggested by diPretoro and Rauch (1988) to produce acid drainage, while Brady et al (1994) indicated this value to be <10. Total NP in our study correlated with net alkalinity in post‐mining water on our 56 sites ( R 2 = 0.12, figure not shown), but the NP values used by these two former studies did not fit our data.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Volumes of each layer in the overburden were determined in three ways. The first way (Ziem) was a right‐triangle method modified from diPretoro and Rauch (1988) The cross‐sectional area perpendicular to the highwall was calculated from depth and pit width. The cross‐sectional area of each layer was calculated by interpolation with layer depths and the average slope.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to NP and NNP, the ratio of NP to MPA has also been used as an indicator of post‐mining water quality (Perry, 1998). diPretoro and Rauch (1988) found that sites with a NP to MPA ratio of <2.4 generally resulted in acid mine drainage and sites with >2.4 usually produced alkaline drainage.…”

Section: Summary Of Water Quality Prediction From Studies In West Virmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acid–Base Accounting to Predict Post‐Mining Drainage Quality on Surface Mines

et al. 2002

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Acid-base accounting (ABA) is an analytical procedure that provides values to help assess the acid-producing and acid-neutralizing potential of overburden rocks prior to coal mining and other large-scale excavations. This procedure was developed by West Virginia University scientists during the 1960s. After the passage of laws requiring an assessment of surface mining on water quality, ABA became a preferred method to predict post-mining water quality, and permitting decisions for surface mines are largely based on the values determined by ABA. To predict the post-mining water quality, the amount of acid-producing rock is compared with the amount of acid-neutralizing rock, and a prediction of the water quality at the site (whether acid or alkaline) is obtained. We gathered geologic and geographic data for 56 mined sites in West Virginia, which allowed us to estimate total overburden amounts, and values were determined for maximum potential acidity (MPA), neutralization potential (NP), net neutralization potential (NNP), and NP to MPA ratios for each site based on ABA. These values were correlated to post-mining water quality from springs or seeps on the mined property. Overburden mass was determined by three methods, with the method used by Pennsylvania researchers showing the most accurate results for overburden mass. A poor relationship existed between MPA and post-mining water quality, NP was intermediate, and NNP and the NP to MPA ratio showed the best prediction accuracy. In this study, NNP and the NP to MPA ratio gave identical water quality prediction results. Therefore, with NP to MPA ratios, values were separated into categories: <1 should produce acid drainage, between 1 and 2 can produce either acid or alkaline water conditions, and >2 should produce alkaline water. On our 56 surface mined sites, NP to MPA ratios varied from 0.1 to 31, and six sites (11%) did not fit the expected pattern using this category approach. Two sites with ratios <1 did not produce acid drainage as predicted (the drainage was neutral), and four sites with a ratio >2 produced acid drainage when they should not have. These latter four sites were either mined very slowly, had nonrepresentative ABA data, received water from an adjacent underground mine, or had a surface mining practice that degraded the water. In general, an NP to MPA ratio of <1 produced mostly acid drainage sites, between 1 and 2 produced mostly alkaline drainage sites, while NP to MPA ratios >2 produced alkaline drainage with a few exceptions. Using these values, ABA is a good tool to assess overburden quality before surface mining and to predict post-mining drainage quality after mining. The interpretation from ABA values was correct in 50 out of 52 cases (96%), excluding the four anomalous sites, which had acid water for reasons other than overburden quality.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Summary Of Water Quality Prediction From Studies In West Virmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acid–Base Accounting to Predict Post‐Mining Drainage Quality on Surface Mines

et al. 2002

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“…ABA techniques have also been used by regulatory authorities and researchers to predict if mining would produce acidic or alkaline water quality (diPretoro and Rauch, 1988;Erickson and Hedin, 1988;Brady et al, 1990). The basic principal involves measurement of the concentration of total sulfur and total carbonate concentration, or neutralization potential in overburden rock and calculation of the calcium-carbonate deficiency (also known as the net-neutralization potential or NNP) for each sampling interval (Sobek et al, 1978).…”

Section: Acid-base Accountingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land application uses for dry FGD by-products, Phase 1 report

Bigham¹,

Dick²,

Forster³

et al. 1993

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The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1992, spurred the development of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) technologies. Several FGD processes produce a dry, solid byproduct material consisting of excess sorbent, reaction products containing sulfates and sulfites, and coal fly ash. Generally, dry FGD by-products are treated as solid wastes and disposed in landfills. However, landfill sites are becoming scarce and tipping fees are constantly increasing. Provided the environmental impacts are minimal, socially acceptable beneficial uses of dry FGD by-products can provide economic benefits to both the producer and the end user of the FGD by-products.A study was initiated in December, 1990 to demonstrate large volume beneficial uses of FGD by-products. A Phase 1 report provided results of an extensive characterization of chemical, physical, mineralogical and engineering properties of 58 dry FGD by-product samples. The Phase 1 report concluded that high volume beneficial reuses will depend on the economics related to their ability to substitute for existing materials for various types of applications (e.g. as an agricultural liming material, soil borrow for highway embankment construction, and reclamation of active and abandoned surface coal mine lands). Phase 2 objectives were (1) to conduct laboratory and greenhouse studies of FGD and soil (spoil) mixtures for agronomic and engineering applications, (2) to initiate field studies related to high volume agronomic and engineering uses, and (3) to develop the basic methodological framework for estimation of the financial and economic costs and benefits to society of several FGD reuse options and to make some preliminary runs of economic models.Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate time-dependent changes in solution chemistry and solid phase composition resulting from the forced leaching of mine spoil-FGD mixes (FGD applied at 0, I O , 20 and 40 wt %). Water quality of the leachate was primarily a function of FGD by-product type, application rate and reaction time. Spoil type had little effect on pore water quality except at the lowest FGD application rate. FGD by-products containing free lime (CaO or Ca(OH),) initially yielded leachate pH values above 12 but the pH rapidly decreased with time. Leachates were generally dominated by Ca, S and CI. If the sorbent used to scrub the flue gases contained Mg, then Mg concentrations were also found to be greatly increased in the leachate of the treated spoil. In contrast, AI and Fe concentrations, which often reach toxic levels in acid mine spoil, were decreased to near instrument detection limits when FGD was applied at rates of 10% or greater. Arsenic, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni concentrations were below the maximum contaminate levels (MCL) defined for drinking water The MCL for Se was exceeded in 78% of the samples in the first leachate, but in only 25% of the samples after 26 days of reaction. Geochemical modeling of the leachate chemistry suggested that ettringite (Ca,AI,(S0,)3( OH),2.6H,0)forms as a reaction product in F...

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“…It is unrealistic to believe that these assumptions are correct in the natural environment and therefore many researchers have questioned the ability of ABA to accurately predict post-mining drainage quality (diPretoro and Rauch, 1988;Erickson and Hedin, 1988). In addition, there is uncertainty as to which ABA parameters most accurately estimate acid-or alkaline-production potential.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Use of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict Post-mining Drainage Quality On West Virginia Surface Mines

Skousen¹,

Simmons²,

Ziemkiewicz³

2001

ASMR

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Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) is an analytical tool to determine the acid-or alkalineproducing potential of overburden rocks prior to coal mining. This procedure was developed by Dr. Richard M. Smith and associates at West Virginia University in the late 1960s. After the passage of laws requiring an assessment of mining on water quality, ABA became the preferred method to predict post-mining water quality, and many permitting decisions for surface mines were and are based on the values determined by ABA. As a post-mining water quality predictor, ABA is best used as a qualitative assessment of the site's potential to produce acid mine drainage. Several studies have attempted to adapt ABA to a quantitative assessment of the site's post-mining water quality. By this approach, the mass of acid-producing rock is compared to the mass of alkaline-producing rock and a prediction of the water quality (amount of acidity or alkalinity) is obtained. Such analyses have given variable prediction success. We gathered information for 28 sites in West Virginia and estimated overburden amounts and ABA parameters on each site based on ABA data and topographic maps. Maximum potential acidity (MPA), neutralization potential (NP), net neutralization potential (NNP), and NP/MPA ratios were determined for each site based on ABA and correlated to post-mining water quality from springs or seeps on the mined property. On our 28 sites, total NNP varied from -12.7 to I 06 tons per thousand tons (t/1000 t) and NP/MPA ratios varied from 0.2 to 21. We found no relationship between MPA with post-mining water quality, while NNP and NP/MPA ratio showed the best correlation. Six sites.gave NP/MPA ratios of 2.2 (all of which should produce alkaline water) and three of the 17 sites produced acid drainage. Two sites with NP/MPA ratios ofI gave net alkaline water quality. ABA is a good tool to assess overburden quality before mining and to predict post-mining drainage quality after mining. Most sites followed the prescribed patterns of prediction.Additional

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Use of Acid-Base Accounts in Premining Prediction of Acid Drainage Potential: A New Approach from Northern West Virginia

Abstract: Abstract.--Premining prediction· of postmining drainage quality is required by l~w, but the method most often used, involving acid-base accounting, was never intended to predict mine drainage quality and as used in the past has proven unreliable.

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Acid–Base Accounting to Predict Post‐Mining Drainage Quality on Surface Mines

Acid–Base Accounting to Predict Post‐Mining Drainage Quality on Surface Mines

Land application uses for dry FGD by-products, Phase 1 report

The Use of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict Post-mining Drainage Quality On West Virginia Surface Mines

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