Abstract: This paper describes Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) generation and its associated technical issues. As AMD is recognized as one of the more serious environmental problems in the mining industry, its causes, prediction and treatment have become the focus of a number of research initiatives commissioned by governments, the mining industry, universities and research establishments, with additional inputs from the general public and environmental groups. In industry, contamination from AMD is associated with construction, civil engineering mining and quarrying activities. Its environmental impact, however, can be minimized at three basic levels: through primary prevention of the acid-generating process; secondary control, which involves deployment of acid drainage migration prevention measures; and tertiary control, or the collection and treatment of effluent.

Abstract: The `ferrite process' is an excellent method for treating waste water containing iron and arsenic, but cannot be directly applied to mine drainage where silicon and aluminum ions are present, because they strongly inhibit ferrite formation. As a result of the development of related technologies such as the elimination of silicon, the concentration of iron, and the oxidation of ferrous ions using iron-oxidation bacteria, a new ferrite formation process has been developed and applied to the mine drainage of the Matsuo Mine. The paper discusses the application of the ferrite sludge to magnetic marking materials, magnetic fluid for metal separation and recovery, and the semiactive magnetic damper is described. The related technologies which will be expected to play an important role in solving the environmental problems are also described. These technologies will change the ferrite sludge to beneficial materials, which can be used for carbon dioxide decomposing catalysts, reuse of dry batteries, fish gathering blocks, and cement tracer for ground improvement