Acid mine drainage, associated coal

Rose, S. and Ghazi, A. M 1997. Release of sorbed sulfate from iron oxyhydroxides precipitated from acid mine drainage associated with coal mining. Environ. Sci. Tech., v. 31, no. 7, pp. 2136-2140. 

Caruccio, F. T. Ferm, J. C. 1974. Paleoenviron-ment - predictor of acid mine drainage problems. Proceedings of the 5th Coal Mine Drainage Research Symposium, National Coal Association (USA), Kentucky, 5-9. 

Coal mining exposes suffides (primarily pyrite) in coal and associated rocks to oxygen and moisture. These oxidize the sulfides and form sulfuric acid. The resulting acidic waters (referred to as acid mine drainage (AMD)) adversely impact the biota in watersheds downstream from active and abandoned mines. Oxidation of the sulfides also releases chalcophyllic trace elements into the water. Many of these elements precipitate in oxygenated surface waters and are concentrated in stream sediments (Goldhaber et at, 2001). 

One of the most serious environmental concerns associated with coal mining is the production of acid mine drainage. Coal mining exposes sulfur-bearing minerals to atmospheric oxygen and water. Pyrite is the principal source of acid production in coal spoils (Rose and Cravotta, 1998). Concerns associated with acidic coal-mine... 

Another environmental problem associated with sulfur is called acid mine drainage. Groundwater in both coal and metal sulfide mines can become contaminated with sulfuric acid. This is particularly a problem in the coal mines of the Appalachian Mountains. Coal deposits often contain pyrites. Metal ores can include toxic salts of zinc, lead, arsenic, copper, and aluminum. In both cases, acid mine drainage can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as corrode boats and piers. Streams sometimes turn red in color because of the iron content from the mine... 

Atmospheric oxidation of iron pyrites (FeS2) in coal and associated rocks and rapid dissolution of the resultant sulfur oxides and iron sulfates in percolating waters produce very acidic effluents (acid mine drainage) (Berkowitz, 1985). The extent and toxicity of the waste streams depend on coal characteristics, local rainfall patterns, topography, and site drainage features. Leaching of such waste could lead to an unacceptable level of contamination of surface and groundwater. 

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the largest environmental problems faced by mining and mineral industries globally (Akcil and Koldas 2006 Akabzaa et al. 2007). AMD is mainly associated with sulphide-rich metalliferous ore deposits, viz., copper, lead, zinc, gold, nickel, tin, and uranium mines (Naicker et al. 2003 Nieto et al. 2007) and coal mines (Bell et al. 2001 Sahoo et al. 2012), which were formed under marine conditions and contain abundant reactive framboidal pyrite (Carrucio and Fern 1974 Campbell etal. 2001). In Table 1, we present a list of well-known AMD sites worldwide. 

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