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Acid Mine Water – Can it be a valuable resource?

Acid Mine Water – Can it be a valuable resource?. Waterfall, Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens. The farm where gold was first discovered in 1886 by that an Australian gold miner, George Harrison .

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Acid Mine Water – Can it be a valuable resource?

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  1. Acid Mine Water – Can it be a valuable resource?

  2. Waterfall, Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens

  3. The farm where gold was first discovered in 1886 by that an Australian gold miner, George Harrison

  4. SA mineral reserves and production (% of World)(from: DME, South Africa’s mineral industry 2006/2007)

  5. Water quality of gold mines in Gauteng

  6. Decant water from gold mines in Gauteng

  7. Limited area

  8. Question Can we deal with this problem in a cost-effective way?

  9. Neutralized mine water

  10. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERFLOWING Pyrite (FeS2) or “Fool’s Gold” remains stable when deep underground .. ... but if exposed to 0² and H²0 (through decanting) it decomposes and forms Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Environmental Critical Level is approximately 23m below water level – lowest natural spring 10

  11. National Water Act of 1998 Key Principles Decentralization Equitable access Efficiency Sustainability Key instruments: Polluter pays principle Mine closure certificate

  12. Apportionment • Decant started March 2002 – Harmony emergency measures • Directives and apportionment (2006) • Randfontein Estates Gold Mine (Harmony 46%) • West Witwatersrand Gold Mine (DRD 44%) • Mogale Gold Mine (Mintails 0.8%) • Co-operation agreement between Mintails and DRD • Heads of Agreement between Harmony, DRD and Mintails 12

  13. What is mine water? What is mine water not?

  14. Components of AMD 4FeS2 + 14O2 + 4H2O  4FeSO4+ 4H2SO4 1. Free acid: H2SO4 already partially neutralized 2. Fe(II) acid: Cannot react with limestone/dolomite 3. Low concentrations of heavy metals 4. Salt (Ca, SO4)

  15. How does AMD form? 1. Dissolution of limestone/dolomite CaCO3 + H2O  Ca2+ + HCO3- + H+ 2. Pyrites oxidation as a result of ingress water running through broken rock; 4FeS2 + 14O2 + 4H2O  4FeSO4 + 4H2SO4 3. Neutralization (natural attenuation) H2SO4 + CaCO3 CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O 4. Reciprocating contact of pyrites-rich ore with water and oxygen as the water level fluctuates from water being pumped out at a constant rate while the incoming water flow-rate fluctuates with seasonal rainfall.

  16. Water quality of gold mines in Gauteng

  17. Volume of mine water under Johannesburg • Kariba Lake = 185 km3 or 185 000 000 Ml

  18. Battery acid

  19. Game Reserve put at risk Birth Defects Deceased

  20. Four point plan • Encourage mining activities to stimulate job creation (reduced labour cost, beneficiation of raw materials). The pumping and treatment cost should be offset by the value of the mined minerals, the treated water, and dissolved by-products reclaimed from the mine water. • Immediate implementation of: • limestone neutralization for removal of free acid, iron(II) and partial desalination. • lime treatment for removal of toxic heavy metals and radioactivity, • In the case of Grootvlei Mine, water is already neutralized due to natural attenuation - Passive treatment • Implement desalination to meet water demand by 2014. Selected technology based on capital and running costs, performance, process stability. • Pumping or not

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