By far the most common mine drainage problem is that of acid mine drainage (AMD). Sulfuric acid is produced when water interacts with sulfurbearing materials in the presence of oxygen and common bacteria[1]. The acidic water formed by this process can dissolve many metals in bioavailable forms, posing a threat to humans and wildlife[2].
MANAGEMENT IN THE WITWATERSRAND GOLD FIELDS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ACID ... MINE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE WITWATERSRAND GOLD FIELDS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ACID MINE DRAINAGE Prepared by the Expert Team of the InterMinisterial Committee under the Coordination ... extensively researched and studied globally and in South Africa. This has ...
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a low pH solution with increased levels of salts and heavy metals, and occasionally even high levels of radioactivity. Many of the AMD pollutants are known to have negative human health impacts. In South Africa, it is known that AMD pollution is a major problem impacting
Mining and water management. South Africa contains 50 percent of the world's gold reserves and is responsible for onethird of the world's gold exports [14]. In addition, South Africa holds 80 percent of the world's manganese reserves and 68 percent of the world's chromium reserves [15]. .
The acid mine drainage solution bandwagon As acid mine drainage threatens some of South Africa's major cities and waterways, technology providers are looking for costeffective solutions. Feb 08, 2019
South Africa. Council for Geoscience (2010) Mine water management in the Witwatersrand gold fields with special emphasis on acid mine drainage (Report to the InterMinisterial Committee on Acid Mine Drainage). Pretoria: Council for Geoscience, December. South Africa.
The Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant was designed and built to recover potable water from acid mine drainage from several mines in the Emalahleni (Witbank) area. The project is a joint initiative between mining companies Anglo Coal and BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA).
Acid mine water in the country is considered a legacy of 120 years of gold mining in the Witwatersrand Basin, the source of about a third of all the world's gold.
This SpringerBrief focuses on Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the three basins in the Witwatersrand, South Africa. It provides a background to AMD and its impactsfrom a social science South African government and nongovernmental organizations' response to AMD is assessed, as well the socioeconomic and developmental effects of AMD.
Environmentalists have termed acid mine drainage (AMD) as the single most significant threat to South Africa's environment. In the past, these and other concerns about AMD were in effect ignored ...
Gold's dirty secret. In nearly all metal mines, and some coal mines, acid drainage occurs because of the oxidation of iron ore found alongside precious mineral deposits. Uncovered by the mining process, the iron reacts with the air and releases sulphuric acid into the water. This process can last centuries.
The heavy toll of coal mining in South Africa. Emalahleni, South Africa Everything in Andries Evans' house is coated in black dust. It has invaded his sofas, the Jesus picture on the wall, the plastic cups and plates in his kitchen, and the old man himself. He is a skinny, .
Acid mine drainage: a threat to water security in South Africa. Loosely defined as the flow or seepage of polluted water from old mining areas, acid mine drainage presents some serious threats to the old gold mining town of Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. Since the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand fields of Gauteng in the late 1880s,...
Within the mining area, the pH falls to 5–6, and heavy metals and sulphate concentrations rise dramatically, due to the inflow of acidic ground water. South of the mining area, the pH rises ( Table 1, 8S, 10S, Fig. 1 ). Fe and Ni concentrations decrease by .
However this being said 2011 saw some of the worst cases of acid mine drainage in South Africa. This year 2012 the country still has to deal with the effects and it is a long road ahead. There are numerous reports documenting acid mine drainage in South Africa.
As a result of gold mining operations in South Africa's Witwatersrand Basin over the last century, underground voids have been created and have filled with water that has become contaminated (known as Acid Mine Drainage). This contaminated water has had a dramatic impact on ground water conditions in the Witwatersrand Basin.
Sulfate Reduction. The Sulfates Reduction Technology that was developed especially for the AMD (Acid Mining Drainage) crisis in South Africa is based on and is a modification of the P2W Electrolytic Process that was implemented successfully for the last 7 years in Latin America, Europe, the Far East and Africa.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) South Africa. Reprocessed uranium is also mainly 238U, with about as much uranium235 as natural uranium, a comparable proportion of uranium236, and much smaller amounts of other isotopes of uranium such as uranium234 uranium233, and uranium232.
How acid rivers are corroding South Africa's landscape – in pictures. A tailings dump (made up of mining waste) is reprocessed in the Krugersdorp area. Adding water, the dry dust of the dump is turned into a slurry to be transported via pipeline for reprocessing.