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Miller, S. D. (1999). Overview of acid mine drainage issues and control strategies Remediation and management of degraded lands. In M. H. Wong, J. W. C. Wong, & A. J. M. Baker (Eds.),. Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers.
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Benzaazoua, M., & Bussiere, B. (1999). Desulphurization of tailings with low neutralizing potential; kinetic study and flotation modeling. In D. Goldsack, N. Belzile, P. Yearwood, & G. Hall (Eds.), Sudbury '99; Mining and the environment II; conference proceedings.
Abstract: Environmental desulphurization is an attractive alternative for acid generating tailings management as demonstrated during the last few years. In fact, such process placed at the end of the primary treatment circuit allows to reduce greatly the amount of problematic tailings by concentrating the sulphidic fraction. Moreover, the desulphurized tailings (non-acid generating) have the geotechnical and environmental properties for being used as fine material in a cover with capillary barrier effects. To produce desulphurized tailings, non selective froth flotation is the most adapted method as shown in many previous works. Desulphurization level is fixed by tailings sulphur content (or sulphide content) and neutralization potential NP. The final residue should have enough NP to compensate for his acid generating potential AP. In this paper, the authors present the results of laboratory tests conducted in Denver cells for studying the sulphide flotation kinetics of four mine tailings which are characterized by a weak neutralization potential (under 37 kg CaCO (sub 3) /t). Tailings 1, 2, 3 and 4 contain respectively 5.27, 10, 4.25 and 16.9 sulphur Wt. %. Tailings 1 and 2 are cyanide free and are well floated at pH around 11 by using amyl xanthate as collector. Collector dosage was optimized for these tailings and the results show that Tailing 2 need more collector. However, Tailings 3 and 4, which come from a gold cyanidation process, could not provide good sulphide recovery with xanthate collector because of the pyrite depression. To overcome this problem, amine acetate was used successfully but induces important entrainment. The consumption of this collector was also optimized. The results of kinetic tests and collector dosage were combined and modeled to establish relationships which allow to estimate the desulphurization performances.
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LaPointe, F., Fytas, K., & McConchie, D. (2005). Using permeable reactive barriers for the treatment of acid rock drainage. International journal of surface mining, reclamation and environment, 19(1), 57–65.
Abstract: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is the most serious environmental problem facing the Canadian mineral industry today. It results from oxidation of sulphide minerals (e.g. pyrite or pyrrhotite) contained in mine waste or mine tailings and is characterized by acid effluents rich in heavy metals that are released into the environment. A new acid remediation technology is presented, by which metallurgical residues from the aluminium extraction industry are used to construct permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to treat acid mine effluents. This technology is very promising for treating acid mine effluents in order to decrease their harmful environmental effects
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Banks, D., Younger, P. L., Arnesen, R. - T., Iversen, E. R., & Banks, S. B. (1997). Mine-water chemistry: The good, the bad and the ugly. Environ. Geol., 32(3), 157–174.
Abstract: Contaminative mine drainage waters have become one of the major hydrogeological and geochemical problems arising from mankind's intrusion into the geosphere. Mine drainage waters in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom are of three main types: (1) saline formation waters; (2) acidic, heavy-metal-containing, sulphate waters derived from pyrite oxidation, and (3) alkaline, hydrogen-sulphide-containing, heavy-metal-poor waters resulting from buffering reactions and/or sulphate reduction. Mine waters are not merely to be perceived as problems, they can be regarded as industrial or drinking water sources and have been used for sewage treatment, tanning and industrial metals extraction. Mine-water problems may be addressed by isolating the contaminant source, by suppressing the reactions releasing contaminants, or by active or passive water treatment. Innovative treatment techniques such as galvanic suppression, application of bactericides, neutralising or reducing agents (pulverised fly ash-based grouts, cattle manure, whey, brewers' yeast) require further research.
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Ntengwe, F. W. (2005). 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. Phys. Chem. Earth, 30(11-16 Spec. Iss.), 726–734.
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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