|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Sanders, F.; Rahe, J.; Pastor, D.; Anderson, R.
Title Wetlands treat mine runoff Type Journal Article
Year 1999 Publication Civil Engineering Abbreviated Journal
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.
Address F. Sanders, McCulley, Frick and Gilman Inc., Boulder, CO, United States
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0885-7024 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Wetlands treat mine runoff; 0411276; United-States; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17551 Serial 256
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Fisher, T.S.R.; Lawrence, G.A.
Title Treatment of acid rock drainage in a meromictic mine pit lake Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Journal of environmental engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 132 Issue 4 Pages 515-526
Keywords Pollution and waste management non radioactive Groundwater problems and environmental effects geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) meromictic lake acid mine drainage mine waste copper water pollution Bacteria microorganisms Canada Vancouver Island British Columbia North America
Abstract The Island Copper Mine pit near Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada, was flooded in 1996 with seawater and capped with fresh water to form a meromictic (permanently stratified) pit lake of maximum depth 350 m and surface area 1.72 km2. The pit lake is being developed as a treatment system for acid rock drainage. The physical structure and water quality has developed into three distinct layers: a brackish and well-mixed upper layer; a plume stirred intermediate layer; and a thermally convecting lower layer. Concentrations of dissolved metals have been maintained well below permit limits by fertilization of the surface waters. The initial mine closure plan proposed removal of heavy metals by metal-sulfide precipitation via anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria, once anoxic conditions were established in the intermediate and lower layers. Anoxia has been achieved in the lower layer, but oxygen consumption rates have been less than initially predicted, and anoxia has yet to be achieved in the intermediate layer. If anoxia can be permanently established in the intermediate layer then biogeochemical removal rates may be high enough that fertilization may no longer be necessary. < copyright > 2006 ASCE.
Address Prof. G.A. Lawrence, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada lawrence@civil.ubc.ca
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0733-9372 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Apr.; Treatment of acid rock drainage in a meromictic mine pit lake; 2873922; United-States 38; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17494 Serial 72
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kuyucak, N.
Title Acid mine drainage prevention and control options Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication CIM Bull. Abbreviated Journal
Volume 95 Issue 1060 Pages 96-102
Keywords acid mine drainage prevention tailings environment waste sulphides Groundwater problems and environmental effects Pollution and waste management non radioactive Surface water quality Waste Management and Pollution Policy tailings sulfide mining industry waste management
Abstract Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the mining industry worldwide. It occurs as a result of natural oxidation of sulphide minerals contained in mining wastes at operating and closed/decommissioned mine sites. AMD may adversely impact the surface water and groundwater quality and land use due to its typical low pH, high acidity and elevated concentrations of metals and sulphate content. Once it develops at a mine, its control can be difficult and expensive. If generation of AMD cannot be prevented, it must be collected and treated. Treatment of AMD usually costs more than control of AMD and may be required for many years after mining activities have ceased. Therefore, application of appropriate control methods to the site at the early stage of the mining would be beneficial. Although prevention of AMD is the most desirable option, a cost-effective prevention method is not yet available. The most effective method of control is to minimize penetration of air and water through the waste pile using a cover, either wet (water) or dry (soil), which is placed over the waste pile. Despite their high cost, these covers cannot always completely stop the oxidation process and generation of AMD. Application of more than one option might be required. Early diagnosis of the problem, identification of appropriate prevention/control measures and implementation of these methods to the site would reduce the potential risk of AMD generation. AMD prevention/control measures broadly include use of covers, control of the source, migration of AMD, and treatment. This paper provides an overview of AMD prevention and control options applicable for developing, operating and decommissioned mines.
Address Dr. N. Kuyucak, Golder Associates Ltd., Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0317-0926 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Acid mine drainage prevention and control options; 2419232; Canada 38; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17532 Serial 64
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zinck, J.M.; Aube, B.C.
Title Optimization of lime treatment processes Type Journal Article
Year 2000 Publication CIM Bull. Abbreviated Journal
Volume 93 Issue 1043 Pages 98-105
Keywords Pollution and waste management non radioactive Groundwater problems and environmental effects geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) acid mine drainage buffering lime Canada
Abstract Lime neutralization technology is widely used in Canada for the treatment of acid mine drainage and other acidic effluents. In many locations, improvements to the lime neutralization process are necessary to achieve a maximum level of sludge densification and stability. Conventional lime neutralization technology effectively removes dissolved metals to below regulated limits. However, the metal hydroxide and gypsum sludge generated is voluminous and often contains less than 5% solids. Despite recent improvements in the lime neutralization technology, each year, more than 6 700 000 m3 of sludge are generated by treatment facilities operated by the Canadian mining industry. Because lime neutralization is still seen as the best available approach for some sites, sludge production and stability are expected to remain as issues in the near future. Several treatment parameters significantly impact operating costs, effluent quality, sludge production and the geochemical stability of the sludge. Studies conducted both at CANMET and NTC have shown that through minor modifications to the treatment process, plant operators can experience a reduction in operating costs, volume of sludge generated, metal release to the environment and liability. This paper discusses how modifications in plant operation and design can reduce treatment costs and liability associated with lime treatment.
Address J.M. Zinck, CANMET, Mining and Mineral Sciences Lab., Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0317-0926 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Optimization of lime treatment processes; 2291672; Canada 17; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17537 Serial 183
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wolkersdorfer, C.
Title Mine water tracing Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Geological Society Special Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume - Issue 198 Pages 47-60
Keywords Groundwater problems and environmental effects Pollution and waste management non radioactive geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) flooding seepage abandoned mine tracer groundwater flow
Abstract This paper describes how tracer tests can be used in flooded underground mines to evaluate the hydrodynamic conditions or reliability of dams. Mine water tracer tests are conducted in order to evaluate the flow paths of seepage water, connections from the surface to the mine, and to support remediation plans for abandoned and flooded underground mines. There are only a few descriptions of successful tracer tests in the literature, and experience with mine water tracing is limited. Potential tracers are restricted due to the complicated chemical composition or low pH mine waters. A new injection and sampling method ('LydiA'-technique) overcomes some of the problems in mine water tracing. A successful tracer test from the Harz Mountains in Germany with Lycopodium clavatum, microspheres and sodium chloride is described, and the results of 29 mine water tracer tests indicate mean flow velocities of between 0.3 and 1.7 m min-1.
Address C. Wolkersdorfer, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Lehrstuhl fur Hydrogeologie, Gustav-Zeuner-Strasse 12, Freiberg, Sachsen D-09599, Germany c.wolke@tu-freiberg.de
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0305-8719 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Mine water tracing; 2463597; United-Kingdom 71; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17528 Serial 83
Permanent link to this record