She noted that since 1912 it had been illegal to allow polluted water from exiting a mines property. This is a natural chemical reaction which can proceed. Philip j hobbs csir senior research hydrogeologist article type. How south african communities are affected by government and industry neglect by andrea zeelie acid mine drainage amd refers to the mixing of water with toxic chemicals such as those present in heavy metals, sulphates, and radioactive uranium, which leak from abandoned mine sites into dolomitic areas underground. With acid mine drainage amd threatening some of south africas major cities, waterways and industries, south african technology providers are getting on the solutions bandwagon in the hopes of. The oxidation of sulphidic mine wastes and the consequent release of acid mine drainage and acid rock drainage, is one of the main strategic environmental issues facing the mining industry. The flow of polluted water from past and present mines is a chronic problem in south africa, and large volumes of water carrying toxic. Pdf the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa. South africa plans levy on mines to tackle acid mine water. Final words acid mine drainage issues in south africa.
Treated water running into a lake at a acid mine drainage plant near krugersdorp. The major areas of research on amd are prediction of amd and preventionmitigation. The last mine standing doesnt have to take on the full burden, but they will have to work out how it will be funded. This springerbrief focuses on acid mine drainage amd in the three basins in the witwatersrand, south africa. The production of broken waste rock and tailings by mining operations can expose large amounts of pyrite and other sulphides to the effects of water and oxygen.
Thanks to the international veolia group, veolia water technologies south africa is able to supply a costcompetitive acid mine drainage treatment system that can reduce the impact of mining on the environment. How acid rivers are corroding south africas landscape. Acid mine drainage amd is arguably one of the most serious environmental concerns in south africa. Acid mine drainage in south africa development actors. In most cases, this acid comes primarily from oxidation of iron sulfide fes2, also known as pyrite or fools gold, which is often found in conjunction with valuable metals. In some regions, it is the most common form of stream and river pollution. The government should only pay in instances where a mine is truly abandoned, liefferink said. For individual support on doing business in south africa, specific questions about market. The acid mine drainage amd threat to the dam emanates from the west rand goldfield a. Amd is caused when water flows over or through sulfurbearing materials forming solutions of net acidity. Environmental, health and human rights consequences of gold mining in south africas west and central rand noted the. The witwatersrand is not the only region in south africa where acid mine drainage is a problem, but it is currently the area of greatest concern.
Environmental, health and human rights consequences of gold mining in south africas west and central rand noted the slow response to the acid mine drainage amd. Nov, 2019 in a nutshell, acid mine drainage is a form of water pollution that happens when rain, runoff, or streams come in contact with rock that is rich in sulfur. Mobility potential of metals in acid mine drainage occurring in the highveld area of mpumalanga province in south africa. Liefferink m and elize s van eeden 2010 proactive environmental activism to promote the remediation of mined land and acid mine drainage. Mobility potential of metals in acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage mines built as early as the 1800s were developed in a manner which utilized gravity drainage, to avoid excessive water accumulation in the mines as a result, water polluted by acid, iron, sulfur and aluminum drained away from the mines and into streams results of acid mine drainage. Platinum group metals ltd technical report for the update. In 2006, south africa was the largest producer of gold, and the fourth largest producer of coal, in the world usher and vermuelen 2006. Impact of acid mine drainage in south africa youtube.
This has led to a deterioration in the water quality in many surface streams. Research efforts have proceeded recently through the acid drainage technology initiative. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south. Acid mine drainage prediction acid mine drainage prediction tests are increasingly relied upon to assess the longterm potential of acid generation. The metropolis of johannesburg, south africas largest city and financial centre, owes its origin to the aubearing rocks of the witwatersrand basin. Sep 10, 20 the last mine standing doesnt have to take on the full burden, but they will have to work out how it will be funded.
Waterberg extension projects, south africa latitude 23 14 11s, longitude 28 54 42e report date. The gold mining industry in south africa principally the witwatersrand goldfield is in decline, but the postclosure decant of amd is an enormous threat, and this could become worse if remedial activities are delayed or not implemented. Mine in colorado, and the brohm mine in south dakota. South africas government delayed the implementation of a planned carbon tax to 2016, while saying it may impose new levies on mining companies to help fund the treatment of acid water seeping. Joining abn to discuss the impact it is having in south africa. Acid mine drainage is a major problem with many hardrock mines, including almost all. Amd comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. It unfortunately makes a beautiful sulfuric acid, says jay barton, a geochemist and board member of south africas council for geoscience, that nations equivalent of the u.
The high acidity of acid mine drainage and the high amounts of dissolved heavy metals such as copper and zinc generally make acid mine drainage extremely toxic to most organisms pentreath, 1994. The following is an overview of information on some major. The effect of mining on the environment includes the release of many chemical contaminants into water resources, which can cause environmental damage and threaten the health and safety of nearby communities long after mine closure. The acid mine drainage solution bandwagon the mail. Water and sanitation, dbsa amd and its adverse impacts put simply, acid mine drainage amd is acidic water that forms when water reacts with minerals voided by mining, which are then exposed to air. These coalfields are located between latitude 25o30. Acid mine drainage amd is the flow, or seepage, of polluted water from old mining areas. Feb 26, 2014 south africas government delayed the implementation of a planned carbon tax to 2016, while saying it may impose new levies on mining companies to help fund the treatment of acid water seeping. Acid mine drainage research acid mine drainage amd has been the subject of intensive research since the 1960s. Amd is a legacy left behind by abandoned, derelict and defunct mines, and is a continuing byproduct of existing mining activities.
This concern has developed because of the lag time at existing mines between waste emplacement and observation of an acid drainage problem univ. Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote sensing. The chemical characteristics of acid mine drainage with. Case study acid mine drainage south africa earthwise. Jun 17, 2016 what is acid mine drainage amd, why is it such a serious threat to south africa and more importantly why has been it been silenced and kept under wraps by the mining industry and south african government for so long. There was consistency in the level of ph at the proximity of the mine, in the dams and downstream in the residential area. Acid mine drainage in south africa has become a major concern for the countrys water infrastructure over recent years. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history of. Mobility potential of metals in acid mine drainage occurring. Acid mine drainagcentral basin, germiston, gauteng, south africa.
It provides a background to amd and its impactsfrom a social science perspective. In a nutshell, acid mine drainage is a form of water pollution that happens when rain, runoff, or streams come in contact with rock that is rich in sulfur. Emmanuel sakala1, 2, francois fourie2, modreck gomo2, henk coetzee1, lwazi. Acid mine drainage overview acid rock drainage ard is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, chiefly iron pyrite or iron disulfide fes2. May 19, 2016 south africa, one of the worlds biggest metals producers, has been hit by a slide in commodities prices that has come on top of widespread labour unrest among miners.
This case was highlighted over the past 20 years, and this is one of the features of serious conditions of amd in south africa. The basin roughly oval in shape, approximately 350 km in a north east to south west direction and stretching over 150 km across hosts seven major goldfields. The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa article pdf available in south african journal of science 10756. South africa, one of the worlds biggest metals producers, has been hit by a slide in commodities prices that has come on top of widespread labour unrest among miners.
Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote. As a result, the water becomes very acidic and damages downstream aquatic ecosystems. Hence, an initial investigation was carried out to determine the source of acid mine drainage pollution and the associated hydrogeological conditions. Overview mine water pollution has been identified by the department of environmental affairs and tourism deat, 2008 as an emerging issue. Left unchecked, it can result in such longterm water quality impacts that it could well be this industrys most harmful legacy. Residents left in dark over acid mine drainage treatment. How acid rivers are corroding south africas landscape in. In mineral resourcerich africa, this has emerged as one. Dec 25, 2015 the flow of polluted water from past and present mines is a chronic problem in south africa, and large volumes of water carrying toxic sulphates and metals such as lead, zinc, copper and. South africa is facing this issue derived from abandoned mines after the largescale mine closure since 1970s, especially from underground mines in recent years 4 8 9. What is acid mine drainage amd, why is it such a serious threat to south africa and more importantly why has been it been silenced and kept under wraps by the mining industry and south african government for so long. Law and governance perspectives l feris lj kotze acid drainage is one of the most serious and potentially enduring environmental problems for the mining industry. The nature of acid mine drainage in the vaal river system.
The video presents the main findings of the opportunities in acid mine drainage in south africa. Acid mine drainage also sometimes referred to as acid rock drainage is a wellunderstood process 2. Mccarthy t s 2010 the decanting of acid mine water in the gauteng cityregio2n. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the socioeconomic and developmental effects of amd. Jun 12, 20 the video presents the main findings of the opportunities in acid mine drainage in south africa. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the. Acid mine drainage amd refers to the outflow of acidic water from a mining site. The regulation of acid mine drainage in south africa. Acid mine drainage at a coal mine in the eastern transvaal. South africa delays carbon tax, plans levies on acid mine.
Acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. Acid mine drainage dumped in west virginia waters paul thomas of morgantown, w. Acid mine drainage prevention and control options nural kuyucak golder associates ltd. Journal for transdisciplinary research in southern africa 5 1 july. Many streams derived from acid mine drainage are largely devoid of life for a long way downstream. Past experiences of the impact of acid mine drainage on water quality in south africa gold mining gold tailings dumps have been a feature of the landscape around the large gold mining towns since mining began, and as described above, have been discharging polluted water for decades. Several mines in the witbank coalfield in south africa are affected by acid mine drainage. The acid mine drainage solution bandwagon africas best read. Mines deny acid mine drainage responsibility farmers weekly.
Dec 10, 2010 with acid mine drainage amd threatening some of south africas major cities, waterways and industries, south african technology providers are getting on the solutions bandwagon in the hopes of. South africa is facing the increasing challenge of acid mine drainage amd whose genesis is the country s mining history, which paid limited attention to postmining mine site management. Acid mine drainage issues in south africa godfrey mwiinga pr. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history.
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