Records |
Author |
Dunn, J.; Russell, C.; Morrissey, A. |
Title |
Remediating historic mine sites in Colorado |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1999 |
Publication |
Min. Eng. |
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Volume |
51 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
32-35 |
Keywords |
Reclamation and conservation Groundwater problems and environmental effects geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 1) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) abandoned mine acid mine drainage environmental effect remediation United States Colorado |
Abstract |
This article provides examples of reclamation and remediation in Colorado watersheds. The projects were undertaken by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8, in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), US Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the US Geological Survey (USGS). These agencies collaborated on the environmental problems at abandoned mines. These samples involved the interaction of surface and ground waters with sulfide-bearing rocks, mine workings and surface mine spoils that produce acid solutions charged with heavy metals that are toxic to organisms. In these examples, acid mine drainage from historic mines in Colorado has been approached cooperatively with stakeholders. Each example emphasizes one aspect of the three-stage process. These stages include characterization and prioritization, hydrologic controls and the evaluation of long-term remediation activities. |
Address |
J. Dunn, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 999 18(th) St., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202-2466, United States |
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0026-5187 |
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Remediating historic mine sites in Colorado; 0434641; United-States; Geobase |
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CBU @ c.wolke @ 17547 |
Serial |
398 |
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Author |
Wiseman, I.M.; Edwards, P.J.; Rutt, G.P. |
Title |
Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Land Contam. Reclam. |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
11 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
221-230 |
Keywords |
Pollution and waste management non radioactive Groundwater problems and environmental effects Wetlands and estuaries geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) geographical abstracts: physical geography hydrology (71 6 8) coal mine recovery aquatic ecosystem constructed wetland water treatment mine drainage abandoned mine |
Abstract |
Seven kilometres of the River Pelenna in South Wales were impacted for approximately 30 years by discharges from abandoned coal mines. Elevated iron and low pH caused significant ochreous staining and had detrimental effects on the river ecology. The River Pelenna Mine water project constructed a series of passive wetland treatment systems to treat these discharges. Monitoring of the performance and environmental benefits of these has been undertaken as part of an Environment Agency R&D project. This project has assessed the changes in water quality as well as monitoring populations of invertebrates, fish and birds between 1993 and 2001. Performance data from the wetlands show that on average the three systems are removing between 82 and 95% of the iron loading from the mine waters. In the rivers downstream, the dissolved iron concentration has dropped to below the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) of 1 mg/L for the majority of the time. Increases in pH downstream of the discharges have also been demonstrated. Trout (Salmo trutta) recovered quickly following mine water treatment, returning the next year to areas that previously had no fish. Intermittent problems with overflows from the treatment systems temporarily depleted the numbers, but the latest data indicate a thriving population. The overflow problems and also background episodes of acidity have affected the recovery of the riverine invertebrates. However, there have been gradual improvements in the catchment, and in the summer of 2001 most sites held faunas which approached those found in unpolluted controls. Recovery of the invertebrate fauna is reflected in marked increases in the breeding success of riverine birds between 1996 and 2001. This study has shown that constructed wetlands can be an effective, low cost and sustainable solution to ecological damage caused by abandoned mine drainage. |
Address |
I.M. Wiseman, Environment Agency Wales, 19 Penyfai Lane, Furnace, Llanelli SA15 4EL, United Kingdom |
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0967-0513 |
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Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands; 2530429; United-Kingdom 25; Geobase |
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CBU @ c.wolke @ 17516 |
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206 |
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Author |
Wingenfelder, U.; Hansen, C.; Furrer, G.; Schulin, R. |
Title |
Removal of heavy metals from mine waters by natural zeolites |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Environ Sci Technol, ES & T |
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Volume |
39 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
4606-4613 |
Keywords |
Groundwater problems and environmental effects Pollution and waste management non radioactive remediation heavy metal mine drainage acid mine drainage; acidification; Central Europe; chemical composition; chemical fractionation; dissolved materials; Europe; framework silicates; geochemistry; grain size; heavy metals; hydrochemistry; ion exchange; lead; metals; mines; mining; mobilization; models; pH; pollutants; pollution; precipitation; remediation; samples; silicates; spectra; Switzerland; toxic materials; X-ray diffraction data; X-ray fluorescence spectra; zeolite group |
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G. Furrer, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Grabenstrasse 3, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland gerhard.furrer@env.ethz.ch |
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0013-936x |
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Removal of heavy metals from mine waters by natural zeolites; 2006-086777; References: 42; illus. incl. 3 tables United States (USA); GeoRef; English |
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CBU @ c.wolke @ 5382 |
Serial |
71 |
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Author |
Ntengwe, F.W. |
Title |
An overview of industrial wastewater treatment and analysis as means of preventing pollution of surface and underground water bodies – The case of Nkana Mine in Zambia |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Phys. Chem. Earth |
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Volume |
30 |
Issue |
11-16 Spec. Iss. |
Pages |
726-734 |
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mine water treatment Groundwater problems and environmental effects Pollution and waste management non radioactive geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) wastewater pollution control acid mine drainage Hyacinthus Zambia Southern Africa Sub Saharan Africa Africa Eastern Hemisphere World |
Abstract |
The wastewaters coming from mining operations usually have low pH (acidic) values and high levels of metal pollutants depending on the type of metals being extracted. If unchecked, the acidity and metals will have an impact on the surface water. The organisms and plants can adversely be affected and this renders both surface and underground water unsuitable for use by the communities. The installation of a treatment plant that can handle the wastewaters so that pH and levels of pollutants are reduced to acceptable levels provides a solution to the prevention of polluting surface and underground waters and damage to ecosystems both in water and surrounding soils. The samples were collected at five points and analyzed for acidity, total suspended solids, and metals. It was found that the pH fluctuated between pH 2 when neutralization was forgotten and pH 11 when neutralization took place. The levels of metals that could cause impacts to the water ecosystem were found to be high when the pH was low. High levels of metals interfere with multiplication of microorganisms, which help in the natural purification of water in stream and river bodies. The fish and hyacinth placed in water at the two extremes of pH 2 and pH 11 could not survive indicating that wastewaters from mining areas should be adequately treated and neutralized to pH range 6-9 if life in natural waters is to be sustained. < copyright > 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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F.W. Ntengwe, Copperbelt University, School of Technology, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia fntengwe@cbu.ac.zm |
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1474-7065 |
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Review; An overview of industrial wastewater treatment and analysis as means of preventing pollution of surface and underground water bodies – The case of Nkana Mine in Zambia; 2790318; United-Kingdom 23; file:///C:/Dokumente%20und%20Einstellungen/Stefan/Eigene%20Dateien/Artikel/10301.pdf; Geobase |
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Call Number |
CBU @ c.wolke @ 17497 |
Serial |
24 |
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Author |
Sanders, F.; Rahe, J.; Pastor, D.; Anderson, R. |
Title |
Wetlands treat mine runoff |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1999 |
Publication |
Civil Engineering |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
69 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
53-55 |
Keywords |
Reclamation and conservation Groundwater problems and environmental effects geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 1) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) abandoned mine acid mine drainage constructed wetland heavy metal remediation United States Montana Blackfoot River |
Abstract |
In the late 1890s, silver, lead and zinc deposits were discovered along the headwaters of the Blackfoot River, northeast of Missoula, Mont. Settlers began mining the metals in earnest, and eventually the mines became known as the Upper Blackfoot Mining Complex (UBMC). Many of the mines were operated long enough to supply metals for World War II weaponry, but after the war the mines were abandoned, and by the 1960s, their orange-tainted runoff began to concern both passersby and state officials. In 1991, the state contacted the current owners of several of those mines-including the Mike Horse and the Anaconda-to negotiate a voluntary cleanup. The American Smelting and Refining Co. (ASARCO) and the Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) agreed to remediate the sites' metal-enriched, moderately to severely acidic drainage, which was discharging into the upper Blackfoot River. As part of effort to reclaim the Mike Horse and Anaconda mines, engineers with McCulley, Frick and Gilman Inc. (MFG), Boulder, Colo., developed an integrated, passive wetland treatment system that will take several years to reach full treatment capacity in the high-elevation environment, but will last for decades. (Constructed and restored wetlands have also been part of the remediation of other UBMC mines, such as the Carbonate and Paymaster mines.) The Mike Horse and Anaconda system, designed to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) restrictions, concentrates primarily on zinc and iron and, to a lesser extent, on copper, lead and other metals. |
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F. Sanders, McCulley, Frick and Gilman Inc., Boulder, CO, United States |
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0885-7024 |
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Wetlands treat mine runoff; 0411276; United-States; Geobase |
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no |
Call Number |
CBU @ c.wolke @ 17551 |
Serial |
256 |
Permanent link to this record |