Findings showed a significant likely impact on groundwater resources, with a potential for generation of acid mine drainage. View of the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa. Mutanga published by african books collective mujuru, munyaradzi and s. Gis maps are a commendable method of correlating a range of. A study was undertaken of surface and ground water in a drainage system in this area. Future research scope lies in development of predictive models of mapping the microbial characteristics with the. Acid mine drainage is a chemical reaction that occurs when water passes through a mineral rock containing sulfide. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage.
Pdf acid mine drainage amd is arguably one of the most serious environmental. Mine drainage is formed when pyrite an iron sulfide is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. 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 acid mine drainage is one of region 3 most serious water. A prospecting right application for offshore sea concession 6c, west coast slr consulting south africa pty ltd iv dmr bar template 4. 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. Mapping of abandoned mine tailings and acid mine drainage using. For individual support on doing business in south africa, specific questions about market. Acid mine drainage in south africa has become a major concern for the countrys water infrastructure over recent years.
Acid mine drainage in johannesburg greenpeace africa. This springerbrief focuses on acid mine drainage amd in the three basins in the witwatersrand, south africa. Investigation of potential water quality and quantity. Acid mine drainage can sometimes be referred to as rock mine drainage. By far the most common mine drainage problem is that of acid mine drainage amd. Soils were also analysed from a site within the mining district. Greenpeace africa is deeply concerned by both the extent of the problems of acid mine drainage in the johannesburg region, and by the lack of action by the authorities and mining companies. South africa s mining sector plays a significant role in the countrys economy. Acid mine drainage amd is a low ph, sulphate and heavy metal rich.
Sulfuric acid is produced when water interacts with sulfurbearing materials in the presence of oxygen and common bacteria1. The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa yxlbwsy. Ard is often mislabelled amd or acid mine drainage too. The last decade has witnessed an upsurge in the use of geospatial technologies. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the socioeconomic and developmental effects of amd. Liefferink m and elize s van eeden 2010 proactive environmental activism to promote the remediation of mined land and acid mine drainage. Monitoring the extent of contamination from acid mine drainage in. Mccarthy t s 2010 the decanting of acid mine water in the gauteng cityregio2n. Acid rock drainage as a concern and part of all metals and mining operations.
Mapping the presence of contaminants in acid mine drainage areas using. The acidic water formed by this process can dissolve many metals. In recent times, acid mine drainage amd has become a serious global. Acid mine drainage issues in south africa godfrey mwiinga pr. The natural scarcity of water resources in south africa, coupled with the impact of economic development needs, increased land use, and a growing population.
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. Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in. Pdf the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa. R600 million per annum has been committed to creating a permanent solution to acid mine drainage that will also produce potable water. Past experiences of the impact of acid mine drainage on water quality in south africa gold mining coal mining possible future impacts of acid mine drainage conclusions references. Pdf the regulation of acid mine drainage in south africa. Amd is a legacy left behind by abandoned, derelict and defunct mines, and is a continuing byproduct of existing mining activities. Ground and airborne geophysical surveys have also identified sub surface acid mine drainage pathways in krugersdorp game reserve area 14. Acid mine drainage amd has received considerable coverage in the media of late and the number of short courses and workshops devoted to the. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south.
Treating acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in. Acid mine drainage amd has started posing environmental and industrial challenges in a number of former and current mining areas in south africa, including the witwatersrand goldfields, the mpumalanga and kwazulunatal coal fields, and the okiep copper district. The witwatersrand basin is a largely underground geological formation which surfaces in the witwatersrand, south africa. South africa s legislative framework for mine closure dmr, 2010a and kruger, 2011 11. The regulation of acid mine drainage in south africa. Treated water running into a lake at a acid mine drainage plant near krugersdorp. Mapping ecological conflicts and spaces of resistance. Report on the interministerial committee on acid mine drainage. 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. 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. It provides a background to amd and its impactsfrom a social science perspective. The printed hardcopy or printready a3 atlas in high definition. The south african human rights commission acknowledges mariette liefferink and eugene viljoen for providing the photographs that appear in this booklet. Acid mine drainage and its governance 10 in the gauteng cityregion o c c a s i o n a l p a p e r.
The government appointed the team after warnings emerged last year that south africa faced a potential water pollution crisis that could lead to health problems due to spillage from acid mine drainage amd, particularly in the witwatersrand gold fields around johannesburg. 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. It occurs naturally particularly in locations such as mines and construction sites where there are plenty of these exposed rocks containing sulfide. 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. What can be done to prevent or clean up acid mine drainage. In the scourge of amd in south africa, such technologies like gis are very useful in the analysis and modelling of water quality. The purpose of the longterm solution is to further treat the water by removing the sulphates and creating water for commercial use as. The acid mine drainage amd challenge can be traced back more than 100 years to the 1800s.
However, researchers said bacteria in the area is leading to the rapid removal of heavy metals such as iron, which is harmful to fish and other life. David fig the goldbearing areas of south africa are concentrated along the ridge of white waters, the witwatersrand. Passive treatment of acid mine drainage through permeable concrete and organic filtration steven michael zaal student number. Metesh hydrogeologist terrie jarrell project leader steve oravetz program leader usda forest service technology and development program missoula, montana 7e72g71 acid mine drainage study october 1998 united states department of. Associate prof craig sheridan and prof chris james.
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. Environmental effects of acid mine drainage cape town. When you have eliminated the javascript, whatever remains must be an empty page. Residents left in dark over acid mine drainage treatment. Treating acid mine drainage from abandoned mines in remote areas john j. Geoscience remote sensing symposium, cape town, south africa.
Surface geological gis map for each of the mines in shape file format. Acid mine drainage and human rights the south african human. There is limited access to acid base accounting or leach test and other mineralogical or quality. Thus, there is a close connection between resource development and amd issue. Pdf the role of geospatial technologies in modelling of. In response to the millions of litres of acid mine drainage already flooding or threatening to flood south africa s streams, rivers, cities, and towns, a variety of solutions have been proposed. New data regarding water quality and acid base potential for the different geological areas through field investigations and geology and mining methods were obtained. Kill zones such as the one at the upper red eyes acid mine drainage spring in somerset county, pennsylvania, decimate plant life.
Acid mine drainage an overview sciencedirect topics. Researchers team up to tackle states acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage prediction compares acid rock drainage factors of waste rock piles and tailings impoundments. Acid mine drainage amd is the flow, or seepage, of polluted water from old mining areas. 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. Return to article details the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa download download pdf. Sources of acid mine drainage university of pretoria. Joining abn to discuss the impact it is having in south africa. This contaminated water has had a dramatic impact on ground water conditions in the witwatersrand basin. The heat of acid mine drainage 18 may 2018 delia du toit mining is a key contributor to south africa s economic development but its effect on the environment could spell disaster. Recent estimates of the rate of decant ranges between 18 mld and 36 mlday with a ph.
O c c a s i o n a l p a p e r researched and written for the gcro by. Acid mine drainage amd is arguably one of the most serious environmental concerns in south africa. Mapping the decision context for the intersection of mining and. 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 project mine restoration investments. The pyrite undergoes oxidation in a twostage process, the. 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. The acid runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as copper, lead, and mercury into groundwater or. 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. Acid mine drainage, acid and metalliferous drainage amd, or acid rock drainage ard is the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines acid rock drainage occurs naturally within some environments as part of the rock weathering process but is exacerbated by largescale earth disturbances characteristic of mining and other large construction activities, usually within rocks. A map showing the distribution of coal and witwatersrand basin gold deposits.
So, to better understand amd and ard, lets begin by defining some terms like ph the standard measure of acidity. Journal for transdisciplinary research in southern africa 5 1 july. Mine waste mineralogy monitoring in south africa, applications for modern. Amd is a legacy left behind by abandoned, derelict and defunct mines, and is a continuing byproduct of existing mining. Government and mining companies need to take responsibility now, taking extensive measures to prevent any further damage and to safeguard the local population. Mine acid drainage mad is the runoff produced when water comes into contact with exposed rocks containing sulfurbearing minerals that react with water and air to form sulfuric acid, dissolved fe and al, and other chemical elements blowes et al. Impact of acid mine drainage in south africa youtube. It holds the worlds largest known gold reserves and has produced over 1. The video presents the main findings of the opportunities in acid mine drainage in south africa. Final words acid mine drainage issues in south africa.
Many of south africas current amd problems can be attributed to mining. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south africa. The legacy of acid mine drainage in south africa request pdf. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south africa munyaradzi mujuru, s. The acid mine drainage solution bandwagon the mail.
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