Pdf a study of environmental assessment of acid mine drainage. Amd is caused when water flows over or through sulfurbearing materials forming solutions of net acidity. Reviews the literature on amd throughout the world and offers case studies on how different frameworks and solutions can be and have been. In examining this table, it is important to note that diffusion of oxygen into water is slow and, therefore, oxidation of iron sulfide is inhibited until the water level drops, which can occur periodically or seasonally in some cases. The witwatersrand region of south africa is famous for its gold production and a major conurbation, centred on johannesburg, has developed as a result of mining activity. 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 impact of acid mine drainage in south africa author. Impact of acid mine drainage on water resources in south africa have dropped significantly, showing that the water that was being pumped from the central basin was contaminating the spruit. See recent media report from department of water affairs regarding acid mine. This case was highlighted over the past 20 years, and this is one of the features of serious conditions of amd in south africa. Groundwater from a closed metalliferous mine in okiep, namaqualand region, south africa. This acid leaches out metals in the rock, which can enter nearby. Field and laboratory studies were carried out within the mining community on latitude s 2 35 w and longitude n 5 31w to investigate the levels of heavy metals. 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.
What is acid mine drainage sources of nonpoint source pollution acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. The acid mine drainage solution bandwagon africas best read. Journal for transdisciplinary research in southern africa 5 1 july. Acid mine drainage amd has been a detrimental byproduct of coal mining for many years. Archaeal and bacterial communities in acid mine drainage from. The origin of acid mine drainage acid mine drainage also sometimes referred to as acid rock drainage is a wellunderstood process2 and arises primarily when the mineral pyrite fools gold or iron disulphide comes into contact with oxygenated water. Government and mining companies need to take responsibility now, taking extensive measures to prevent any further damage and to safeguard the local population. Acid mine drainage issues in south africa godfrey mwiinga pr.
For individual support on doing business in south africa, specific questions about market. Acid mine drainage in south africa development actors, policy. Acid mine drainage in gauteng province, south africa mining in south africa and in gauteng province. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south. Acid mine drainage consulting engineers south africa. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response.
Amd is a legacy left behind by abandoned, derelict and defunct mines, and is a continuing byproduct of existing mining activities. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history. Acid mine drainage amd is the flow, or seepage, of polluted water from old mining areas. 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. The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa mccarthy. Liefferink m and elize s van eeden 2010 proactive environmental activism to promote the remediation of mined land and acid mine drainage. The formation of acid mine drainage and the contaminants associated with it have been described as the largest environmental problem facing the u.
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. Caroline lomalungelo lungile dlamini at university of south africa. 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. The acid water is believed to be currently about 600m below surface of johannesburg and surrounding areas, but is rising at an estimated rate of between 0. Acid mine drainage amd refers to the outflow of acidic water from a mining site. A study was undertaken of surface and ground water in a drainage system in this area.
At present, acid mine drainage continues to pose a potential problem in some areas, despite improved prediction and prevention techniques. Final words acid mine drainage issues in south africa. Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote sensing. Acid mine drainage overview acid rock drainage ard is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, chiefly iron pyrite or iron disulfide fes2. Acid mine drainage effect on creeks or streams in a mining.
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. Residents left in dark over acid mine drainage treatment. The nature of acid mine drainage in the vaal river system. Amd comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. The video presents the main findings of the opportunities in acid mine drainage in south africa. How acid rivers are corroding south africas landscape in. Treated water running into a lake at a acid mine drainage plant near krugersdorp. Acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. Pdf acid mine drainage amd is an industrial pollution of prime concern for the whole world. Acid mine drainage in johannesburg greenpeace africa.
The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa article pdf available in south african journal of science 10756. This pollution is so persistent that, in the absence of available remedies, in many instances the contaminated sites may never. Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in johannesburg, south africa, and environs. 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. Takes a social science perspective on acid mine drainage amd in south. Acid mine drainage and stream recovery knowledge and. Acid mine drainage research acid mine drainage amd has been the subject of intensive research since the 1960s. Physicochemical properties of pitwater from ishiagu lead zinc pb. 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. Left unchecked, it can result in such longterm water quality impacts that it could well be this industrys most harmful legacy.
The pyrite undergoes oxidation in a twostage process, the first producing sulphuric acid and ferrous sulphate and. Article pdf available in south african journal of science 10756. Jun 12, 20 for individual support on doing business in south africa, specific questions about market opportunities and to receive a full report, please contact juliet. Uranium pollution of south african streams an overview of the situation in gold mining areas of the witwatersrand. Amd is a major pollutant resulting in enhanced acidity of water bodies wherever it exists 7. Acid mine drainage amd is a prominent threat to water quality in many of. South africa most certainly has uncovered a very inconvenient truth. Soils were also analysed from a site within the mining district. In sum, our data suggest that with appropriate remediation efforts and time, streams af. 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.
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. Acid mine drainage is a major problem with many hardrock mines, including almost all. Most of the cases result from the exposure of sulfide minerals in waste dumps to air and rainfall after the abandonment of mines in the world. South africa plans levy on mines to tackle acid mine water. It provides a background to amd and its impactsfrom a social science perspective. 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. Acid mine drainage in south africa has become a major concern for the countrys water infrastructure over recent years. Case study acid mine drainage south africa earthwise. Feb 25, 2011 acid mine drainage amd occurs when old mine shafts and tunnels fill up, leading to underground water oxidising with the sulphide mineral iron pyrite, otherwise known as fools gold. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history 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.
The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa south. See csir draft report on acid mine drainage pdf see carte blanche transcript on acid mine drainage. The pyrite undergoes oxidation in a twostage process, the. Acid mine drainage amd is arguably one of the most serious environmental concerns in south africa. Impact of acid mine drainage in south africa youtube. Acid mine drainage is a major driving force responsi. Hug an environmentalist today, without us you would never know how youre being poisoned. The south african human rights commission acknowledges mariette liefferink and eugene viljoen for providing the photographs that appear in this booklet. This is a natural chemical reaction which can proceed. 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. Takes a social science perspective on acid mine drainage amd in south africa in the context of sustainable socioeconomic development. 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.
A study of environmental assessment of acid mine drainage in. A study of environmental assessment of acid mine drainage in ngwenya, swaziland 21 this acidic effluent produced during the mining process is called acid mine drainage amd 5,6. Pdf impact of acid mine drainage on water resources in. 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. Acid mine drainage in south africa development actors. In mineral resourcerich africa, this has emerged as one of the most daunting challenges of our time.
Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the. Investigates how definitional differences among interacting entities impact policy assessments, goals, and actions. 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. Acid mine drainage prediction compares acid rock drainage factors of waste rock piles and tailings impoundments.
Joining abn to discuss the impact it is having in south africa. 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. Assessment of impacts of acid mine drainage on surface water. Mccarthy t s 2010 the decanting of acid mine water in the gauteng cityregio2n. Oct 14, 2016 institutional linkages and acid mine drainage. In 2006, south africa was the largest producer of gold, and the fourth largest producer of coal, in the world usher and vermuelen 2006. Integrating the acid mine drainage value chain p w a s e c. Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote. Mobility potential of metals in acid mine drainage occurring.
The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the socioeconomic and developmental effects of amd. Acid mine drainage amd causes environmental pollution that affects many countries having historic or current. Po box 3, wits 2050, johannesburg, south africa how to cite this article. Mariette is the ceo of the federation for a sustainable environment and was a member of the sahrc section 05 committee on human rights and acid mine drainage. Pdf the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa.
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