When you are confronted with the job of cleaning difficult mine wastewater, your primary goal is an environmental optimization strategy — keeping costs down while meeting environmental requirements. This optimization requires reaching a balance that facilitates permit compliance while avoiding nuisance reactions which only increase complexity and costs. Experienced laboratory professionals can help you make confident decisions about your treatment goal.
Category: Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
It is safe to say that mine runoff will require treatment for many years to come. According to the International Organizing Committee for the World Mining Congress, 167 countries worldwide produced a combined 16.9 billion metric tons of minerals ranging from aluminum to zircon in 2016.
Category: Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
Acid mine drainage (AMD) and acid rock drainage (ARD) are problems that will be with us for a long time. Acid mine drainage is water with pH in the range of 1-3 that drains from abandoned mine sites. Acid rock drainage is acidic drainage or runoff from disturbed rock or soil that could be caused by road construction or other excavation work. Acid rock drainage can also result when affected rock is used as fill material.
Category: Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
Photo courtesy of Yukon News and CMS Photos
Acid mine/rock drainage is a rampant problem in the world today. The above photo depicts acid drainage at an abandoned mine in the Yukon Territory of northwest Canada. This mine shares a similar history to thousands of other mines throughout the world. It was in operation for six short years in the 1950’s, producing gold ore. Its profitability eventually failed and it was abandoned. In the years following, the mine changed ownership several times, making it very difficult for the government to enforce treatment for the acid rock drainage that the mine created.
Category: Acid Mine Drainage Treatment