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Turek, M., & Gonet, M. (1997). Nanofiltration in the utilization of coal-mine brines. Desalination, 108(1-3), 171–177.
Abstract: The utilization of saline coal mine waters is considered to be the most adequate method of solving ecological problems caused by this kind of water in Poland. In the case of most concentrated waters, the so-called coalmine brines, the method of concentrating by evaporation in a twelve-stage expansion installation or vapour compression is applied, after which sodium chloride is manufactured. A considerable restriction in the utilization of coal mine brines is the high energy consumption in these methods of evaporation. An obstacle in the application of low energy evaporation processes, e.g. multi-stage flash, is the high concentration of calcium and sulfate ions in the coal mine brines. The present paper deals with the application of nanofiltration in the pretreatment of the brine. The application of nanofiltration membranes with an adequate pore size, including charged membranes, makes it possible to decrease the concentration of divalent ions in the permeate practically without any changes in the concentration of sodium chloride. Then the permeate may be concentrated in a multi-stage evaporation process, e.g. MSF, without any risk of the crystallization of gypsum. A combination of NF and MSF ought to set down the unit costs of the concentration of coal mine brines below those of mere evaporation.
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Arnekleiv, J. V., & Storset, L. (1995). Downstream effects of mine drainage on benthos and fish in a Norwegian river; a comparison of the situation before and after river rehabilitation. Heavy metal aspects of mining pollution and its remediation, 52, 35–43.
Abstract: Parts of the Norwegian river Gaula are strongly polluted from former mining activity in the area. In the most polluted parts of the river the concentration levels of Cu and Zn in 1986-1987 were up to 155 mu g l (super -1) and 186 mu g l (super -1) , respectively. In 1989 the spoil heaps in the mining area were covered with protective layers of moss-covered plastic. In 1991-1992 the concentration levels of Cu and Zn had decreased by 75% and 65%, respectively. Animal life in the polluted area seemed to be strongly affected by the trace metals in 1986-1987. The 1991-1992 results showed a marked increase in the number of species and in the number of individuals of each species of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, compared with the results from 1986-87. Good correlations were found between the concentrations of Cu in the water and both the number of species and the number of individuals of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. Analysis of the species Baetis rhodani, Diura nanseni and Rhyacophila nubila showed an average total dry weight content of Cu up to 264 mu g g (super -1) , of Zn up to 1930 mu g g (super -1) and of Cd up to 16 mu g g (super -1) . The contents of the three trace metals were significantly different from one species to another and in part between the stations for each species. In 1987 trout died after an exposure of one to two days on three test sites in the river, whereas in 1991-1992 40-75% of the trout survived an exposure period of several weeks at two of the sites. Electrofishing in 1991-1992 indicated recolonization of trout in the lower parts of the former affected and uninhabitable area.
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Wolkersdorfer, C. (2005). Mine water tracer tests as a basis for remediation strategies. Chemie der Erde, 65(Suppl. 1), 65–74.
Abstract: Mining usually causes severe anthropogenic changes by which the ground- or surface water might be significantly polluted. One of the main problems in the mining industry are acid mine drainage, the drainage of heavy metals, and the prediction of mine water rebound after mine closure. Therefore, the knowledge about the hydraulic behaviour of the mine water within the flooded mine might significantly reduce the costs of mine closure and remediation. In the literature, the difficulties in evaluating the hydrodynamics of flooded mines are well described, but only few tracer tests in flooded mines have been published so far. Most tracer tests linked to mine water problems were related to either pollution of the aquifer or radioactive waste disposal and not the mine water itself. Applying the results of the test provides possibilities f or optimizing the outcome of the source-path-target methodology and therefore diminishes the costs of remediation strategies. Consequently, prior to planning of remediation strategies or numerical simulations, relatively cheap and reliable results for decision making can be obtained via a well conducted tracer test. < copyright > 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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Rodiek, J., Verma, T. R., & Thames, J. L. (1975). Disturbed land rehabilitation in Lynx Creek watershed. Landscape and Planning, 2, 265–282.
Abstract: Rodiek, J., Verma, T.R. and Thames, J.L., 1976. Disturbed land rehabilitation in Lynx Creek Watershed. Landscape Plann., 2: 265-282. The Lynx Creek Watershed is located on the Prescott National Forest about 8 km south of Prescott, Arizona. The watershed, with an area of 7304 ha, has experienced intensive copper and gold mining activities in the past. Approximately 13% of the area still consists of patented mining claims (mainly copper). There are numerous abandoned mine shafts, waste dumps and mine tailings in the area. Past mining activities in the watershed have caused significant deterioration in water quality within and downstream from the mining sites. Mine drainage includes water flowing from mine shafts, surface runoff and seepage from mining dumps. Drainage from the numerous old mining sites contributes to the toxic mineral and sediment pollution of the water resources in the area. The pollutants in the form of dissolved, suspended or other solid mineral wastes and debris, enter in the streams of ground water. Aquatic life and recreation potential of the watershed is greatly reduced by the water pollution problem from the abandoned mines. The pollutants from the abandoned mines enter into Lynx Lake which is located 10 km southeast of Prescott. Lynx Lake, a trout fisheries lake, was created by a dam built in 1963 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The lake is 22 surface hectares in size with the storage capacity of 1.85 x 106 m3. The average yearly flow of sediment into the lake is 2900 m3. The sediment is slightly acidic and has a high concentration of copper, manganese, iron, zinc, and sulfates. The Sheldon dump and tailings pond are considered two major sources of pollution. Increasing need to direct additional attention toward mineral related problems made it necessary to coordinate U.S. Forest Service efforts with others involved in mining and reclamation. The Forest Service started SEAM (Surface Environment And Mining) in 1972 to coordinate interagency reclamation efforts. The Sheldon Mine dump and tailings pond were undertaken as a reclamation project through the coordinated efforts of the Forest Service, and the School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona at Tucson. The project is aimed at reclaiming some of the abandoned spoils in the Lynx Creek watershed and monitoring of water quality in the creek to evaluate the effectiveness of reclamation procedures. The reclamation approach includes recontouring, revegetating, drainage control and visual impact modification activities. The results to date have been encouraging. There was an excellent vegetation cover established within 5 weeks of seeding. Runoff and sediment control on the regraded slopes seemed quite effective. The methodology and technological experience gained from the reclamation project will provide invaluable information for reclaiming any abandoned mining sites within the Ponderosa Pine Ecosystem.
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Akcil, A., & Koldas, S. (2006). Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): causes, treatment and case studies. J. Cleaner Prod., 14(12-13), 1139–1145.
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.
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