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1
Akoitai, Samson Arthur. "Arsenic in leachates from mine waste rocks." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Chemistry, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/5969.
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This research dealt with the leaching of arsenic containing waste rocks from a proposed gold mine site at Reefton, New Zealand. Then it established the acidity and concentrations of Fe, sulfate, As(V) and As(III) released as a result of leaching experiments which simulated the weathering process. It also determined the arsenic concentrations that were released from old mine workings into the Devils Creek sediments catchment and concentrated into sediments. The Devils Creek catchment is located downstream from the proposed mine.
Acid mine drainage (AMD) results from oxidation of sulfide bearing rocks and deposits (e.g. FeS and FeS2). It is characterised by elevated concentrations of sulphate and iron and low pH. As(V) and As(III) may also be a component in AMD from the oxidation of FeAsS. Biologically As(III) is considered the more toxic form.
Methods were developed for the measurement of arsenic species (As(V) and As(III)) in leachates derived from mine waste rocks. These were applied to freshwater samples and sediment extracts. These included:
• A field method for the on-site fractionation of arsenic in fresh waters using XAD-4 and Chelex-Fe(III) resins. In this two-step process the XAD-4 resin was used to isolate and pre-concentrate natural organic matter (NOM) and therefore the arsenic fraction associated with it through iron bound to the NOM. In the second step Fe(III) modified Chelex 100 resin was used to selectively preconcentrate As(V) from water samples. Thus the combined method achieved discrimination between free and bound fractions of As(V) and the separation of As(V) from As(IU).
• A flow injection analysis protocol based on spectrophotometric detection was modified to increase its sensitivity for measurement of arsenic species in leachates derived from waste rocks. The method was effective for the determination of arsenate. Arsenite was measured by prior oxidation with iodate.
Study on the Devils Creek catchment established the existing baseline levels of arsenic in the fresh water and sediments. The water contains high levels of arsenic. Most of the arsenic in Devils Creek water is soluble. As(V) is the predominant species of which a minor fraction (13-28%) is bound to NOM. It was also established that arsenic was associated with Fe and A1 rich phases in the Devils Creek sediments. Due to the high accumulated arsenic load in the sediments, further uptake of arsenic from the water column is no longer viable because potential binding sites in the sediments have been saturated.
Leaching simulation on mine basic waste rocks (GB 13) and an acidic sandstone were conducted using a variety of leach ants applicable to the field, then quantifying the Fe, As(III), As(V), heavy metals and acidity in the leachates. It was established that the sandstone rock had the greater potential to produce acid mine drainage (AMD). Its leachates give a high acidity (pH 2.9-3.4) compared to leachates of the GB 13 waste rock which have a weakly basic pH of7.2. The dominant arsenic species in leachates of both rock types is As(V). The concentrations of arsenic, soluble Fe and heavy metals leached from the sandstone were greater than those leached from GB 13.
The interactions of arsenate with other components of AMD and natural organic matter were examined. It was established that ferrihydrite semi-quantitatively and rapidly removes arsenate from solution. The arsenate adsorption is inhibited by competing ions in the following order: sulfate> FA ≡ HA. Complexes of HA-Fe(III) and FA-Fe(III) bind arsenate as 1:1 complexes through the Fe(III).
Investigations were made on the use of limestone for the control of arsenic in mine waste rock leachates. It was established that where acidic leachate contacts limestone the pH rises as a result of neutralisation reactions. Subsequently there is a precipitation of Fe(III) and retention of As(V) on the Fe(OH)3. As (III) is oxidised by Fe3+(aq) and Fe(OH)3. On contact with the limestone surface, As (III) is also retained and oxidised. Fe(III) impurities in the limestone are responsible for the uptake of both As(V) and As(III). Insoluble calcium arsenates or arsenites are not formed.
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Silva, Marvin Jose. "Plant dewatering and strengthening of mine waste tailings." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape8/PQDD_0015/NQ46918.pdf.
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Ebenå, Gustav. "Sulfidic mine waste microorganisms in an ecological context /." Linköping : Univ, 2003. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2003/tek841s.pdf.
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Lindvall, Manfred. "Strategies for remediation of very large deposits of mine waste : the Aitik mine, Northern Sweden." Licentiate thesis, Luleå : Luleå tekniska universitet, 2005. http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1757/2005/72/.
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Qureshi, Asif. "Potential of fly ashes for neutralisation of acid mine drainage from coal mine waste rock." Licentiate thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Geovetenskap och miljöteknik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-17607.
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Many countries around the world use coal as fuel for the purpose of power generation. The extraction of coal produces large volumes of waste rock (WR) that are sometimes sulphide rich (principally containing iron sulphides such as pyrite (FeS2) and pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS)), with varying quantities of trace elements such as As, Si, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Mo and Cr etc). Such waste is environmentally sensitive due to the risk of oxidation in presence of atmospheric oxygen and water. Sulphide oxidation may result in acidic waters (acid mine drainage, AMD), which often contains high loads of dissolved metals. Coal combustion results in large amounts of fly ash (FA), which also is of environmental concern. However, FA is alkaline and may potentially be used for neutralisation of AMD. Therefore, the AMD producing potential of WR from coal mining and the neutralisation potential of FAs from coal and biomass combustion was studied with the ultimate goal to develop a methodology to decrease the environmental problems related to these materials.WR was sampled form the Lakhra coal field in Pakistan, which has an estimated coal reserve of 1.3 Bton, from lignite to sub-bituminous in quality. The WR samples were characterised by mineralogical and geochemical methods and the acid producing potential was determined by static (Acid Base Accounting) and kinetic (modified humidity cells test) methods. Besides organic material, the WRs are composed of quartz, pyrite, kaolinite, hematite and gypsum with varying amounts of calcite, lime, malladerite, spangolite, franklinite and birnessite. The Lakhra WR has strong potential to generate AMD (-70 to -492 kg CaCO3/ton) and pollute natural waters by leaching of elements such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe and SO42-. Three different FAs based on the origin, fuel type and storage methods were studied. They were characterised by mineralogical and geochemical methods, the leachability was studied by batch leaching tests and the potential for buffering acids and neutralisation of AMD was quantified. Fly ash from burning i) brown coal (lignite) in Pakistan (PK), ii) black (bituminous) coal from Finland (FI) and iii) biomass FA provided by a sulphate pulp and paper mill in Sweden (SE) were studied. All ashes contained quarts, PK also iron oxide, anhydrite, and magnesioferrite, FI also mullite and lime, and SE also calcite and anorthite. All ashes were enriched in As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn compared to continental crust, and all ashes had a strong neutralisation potential, the bioash, SE, in particular. The results are encouraging and suggest that it is possible to use FA to mitigate the environmental problems with coal mine WR. Methods for that will be the focus for the continued research.Godkänd; 2014; 20141013 (asiqur); Nedanstående person kommer att hålla licentiatseminarium för avläggande av teknologie licentiatexamen. Namn: Asif Qureshi Ämne: Tillämpad geologi/Applied Geology Uppsats: Potential of Fly Ashes for Neutralisation of Acid Mine Drainage from Coal Mine Waste Rock Examinator: Professor Björn Öhlander Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser Luleå tekniska universitet Diskutant: Dr Josef Mácsik Ecoloop AB Stockholm Tid: Torsdag den 18 december 2014 kl 13.00 Plats: E246, Luleå tekniska universitet
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Sracek, Ondrej. "Hydrogeochemical and isotopic investigation of acid mine drainage in waste rock at Mine Doyon, Québec, Canada." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq25259.pdf.
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Nigéus, Susanne. "Green liquor dregs-amended till to cover sulfidic mine waste." Licentiate thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Geovetenskap och miljöteknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-68654.
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The mining industry produces massive amounts of waste that without treatment and in contact with oxygen can result in acid rock drainage (ARD) and increased leaching of metals. In Sweden, the common way to manage the mine waste after closure is to apply a dry coverage on top of the waste deposition. The access to a suitable cover-material is however limited and can lead to extensive costs for the mining company. This creates a great driving force for alternative solutions, e.g. bentonite amendment to till. However, bentonite production is costly both economically and environmentally due to time- and resource- consuming production. Recycling of industrial residues as a cover material is another option. The recycling is beneficial for many parts, i.e. the industry producing the residue, the mining industry that will use the residue and the society in its strive for zero waste. An industrial residue that has potential to improve the sealing layer qualities of a local till is Green Liquor Dregs (GLD), a residue from pulp production in a paper mill. In this study 5 to 20 wt. % of GLD from two different paper mills, with varying total solid content (TSC) and particle size distributions (PSD), were mixed with three tills also with varying PSD and TSC. The objectives of the study were to investigate if GLD addition can improve a till so it can be used in a sealing layer, how the fines- and clay content in the tills affects the hydraulic conductivity (HC) and the water retention capacity (WRC) of the till-GLD mixtures, and how the initial water content will affect the HC in the different mixtures. The HC of the mixtures based most of the tills studied improved, but not enough to reach the required 10-8 m/s. Only the material based on a more clayey silty till had an HC below 10-8 m/s, even if it increased with the addition of GLD. The WRC, on the other hand, shows promising results, especially for 15 wt. % GLD addition. An increase in WRC is seen the more GLD is added. However, due to compaction difficulties more than 20 wt. % addition is not recommended. There is a difference in both HC and WRC between the mixtures based on the different tills, and a characterization of the till as a bulk material and its mixture with GLD is suggested before using it in mine remediation purposes. The HC of the till is affected by the content of fines and especially clay. The results from the WRC is more complicated and a mineralogical study on the GLD and the clay fraction of the tills is recommended. This study also shows that the initial water content of the materials rather than dry density has an impact on the HC of the mixtures. The initial water content determines the degree wet of optimum that in this and previous studies has shown to greatly affect the HC. A drier till and GLD leads to that more GLD should be added to the mixture when reaching for optimal HC. Even if the study did not result in low enough HC in most of the cases, the WRC shows promising results and is the most important parameter minimizing the oxygen diffusion to the mine waste. The greatest challenge when working with GLD is, however, its heterogeneity which makes it difficult to predict how it will behave in a sealing layer. Even though, the recycling of GLD in mine waste remediation should be strived for as it is beneficial for both the industry that provides the residue and the mining company. It is also a great profit for the environment as it minimizes the waste disposed and reduce use of natural resources.
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Gacad, Felizardo. "Neutralisation of toxic mine waste in wetlands through electro-osmosis." Thesis, Fderation University Australia, 1998. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/164879.
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Uster, Benjamin. "The use of waste mussel shell in sulfate-reducing bioreactors treating mine-influenced waters." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/11262.
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Mining-Influenced Water (MIW) poses major environmental issues in New Zealand and worldwide due to a legacy of unmitigated mining activities. As conventional MIW treatment technologies can be very costly in terms of chemical and energy inputs, cheaper and environmentally-friendly alternative remediation strategies have been developed. These so-called passive treatment technologies include a range of engineered systems relying on biogeochemical processes able to mitigate the acidity and to immobilize the metals in MIW.
The present research, built on previous work conducted at the University of Canterbury, investigated the use of waste materials in mesocosm lab-scale sulfate-reducing bioreactors (SRBR) to treat actual mining-influenced water (MIW) sourced at an active coal mine in New Zealand. Specifically, this study investigated using waste mussel shells as an alkaline amendment (instead of the more conventional material limestone), with organic waste materials such as wood byproducts and compost in complex substrate mixtures in upward-flow SRBR. The influence of hydraulic retention times of approximately 3 and 10 days (HRT; i.e. the contact time between the MIW and the substrate mixtures in the SRBR) on the treatment performances was also evaluated.
Overall, each system successfully treated the MIW (e.g. increased the pH > 6 and removed >78 % of the metals, except Mn) during the first 5-month treatment period, while during the second 5-month period, the treatment systems containing limestone and/or operating at a short HRT started to show signs of decreased efficiency. Generally, the system containing mussel shell and operating at a long HRT was constantly the most efficient system. Over the whole 41-week period of treatment, key metal removal efficiencies ranged between 97.6 and 99.7 % (Al), 83.9 and 95.2 % (Fe), and 9.2 and 38.8 % (Mn). Sulfate removal, in terms of moles of sulfate removed per cubic meter of substrate per day, was on average below the design values of 0.3 mol/m3/d, and ranged between 0.03 and 0.55 mol/m3/d (median values were 0.26 to 0.3 mol/m3/d during the first 5-month period but dropped to 0.094 to 0.1 mol/m3/d during the second 5-month treatment period).
The SRBR containing mussel shell instead of limestone resulted in significantly higher alkalinity generation (between 32 to 85 % higher) and higher metal removals (between 0.6 % higher for Al and 14 % higher for Ni). These results were mainly attributed to the unique mineralogy of the mussel shell which comprises of aragonite with traces of calcite, while limestone comprises of pure calcite with traces of quartz. The statistical analyses showed that the sulfate reduction was not significantly affected by the alkalinity source.
Similarly, systems operating at a longer HRT (10 days instead of 3 days) showed better treatment performances than systems operating at a short HRT in terms of alkalinity generation (44 to 62% higher), metal removal (between 0.5 % higher for Al to 15 % higher for Ni, and between 17 to 23 % higher for Mn), and sulfate reduction (50 to 77 % higher). Overall, the systems operation on a longer HRT were dominated by a more reduced environment facilitating the precipitation of metal sulfides, while the reactors running on a shorter HRT were constantly maintained out of equilibrium by the continuous addition of fresh MIW.
Chemical and mineralogical analyses performed on the spent substrates suggested that the metals were removed through precipitation as, and adsorption onto, metal sulfides (Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu), (oxy)hydroxides (Al, Fe, Zn), and carbonates (Mn, Zn). Mn, a metal known to be harder to remove from solution was likely removed through the precipitation of rhodochrosite (MnCO3) and via adsorption onto the organic matter. These results generally corroborated the results obtained using the geochemical modeling PHREEQC.
Overall, this study showed that mussel shells are not only a sustainable and effective alternative to mined limestone, but their use in SRBR would also result in a better treatment of MIW. Additionally, even though an increase in HRT resulted in a better contaminant removal, a HRT of approximately 3 days was sufficient to remove about 80% of all metals (except Mn). Therefore, the difficult choice of an optimal HRT must balance the need to meet a specific effluent quality while keeping the treatment time reasonably short, and an intermediate retention time of approximately 6 days could be optimal.
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Cotter-Howells, Jane. "Lead minerals in soils contaminated by mine-waste : implications for human health." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/8913.
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Li, Jiajie. "Mechanical activation of ultramafic mine waste materials for enhanced mineral carbonation." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/61039.
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The potential success of integrating mineral carbonation, as a pathway to CO₂ sequestration, in mining projects, is dependent on the mineralogical composition and characteristics of its waste rock and tailings. Ultramafic rocks have proven the best potential substrate for mineral carbonation and their ability to alter and to convert CO₂ into its carbonate mineral form is dependent on the original mineralogy and particle surface area. CO₂ conversion kinetics is complex and with the application of appropriate comminution technologies, its efficiency can be enhanced. The objective of this research is to evaluate mechanical activation to enhance the carbonation storage capacity of mine waste material. Three approaches were taken in this research. The first approach was to characterize the microstructure of the mechanically-activated mineral olivine, a predominant mineral constituent of ultramafic rocks, using X-ray diffraction patterns and line profile analysis methods with full pattern fitting method. The second approach was to compare the structural and chemical changes of mine waste with pure olivine, both of which were activated by various mechanical forces under both wet or dry conditions and subsequently carbonated in a direct aqueous carbonation process. Regardless of milling conditions, forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄), the olivine mineral variety in the mine waste, was found to be the main mineral being mechanically-activated and carbonated. It was determined that lizardite (Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄), a hydrated magnesium silicate also common in ultramafic hosted mineral deposits, acted as catalyzer assisting forsterite reaching high levels of activation. This condition generated a greater CO₂ conversion to carbonate than that of pure olivine with the equal specific milling energy input. The stirred mill proved to be the most efficient form of mechanical activation vis-a-vis the direct aqueous carbonation process, followed by the planetary mill and the vibratory mill. The third approach analyzes the feasibility of mechanical activation in an integrated mineral carbonation process in a nickel mine considering the life cycle of the process. The minimum operating cost for 60% CO₂ sequestration efficiency was 105-107 $/t CO₂ avoided. At this point, the Turnagain project can potentially sequester 238 Mt/y CO₂ using its waste during the 28-year life of mine.Applied Science, Faculty of
Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of
Graduate
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Kabwe, Louis Katele. "Measurements and modeling of gas fluxes in unsaturated mine waste materials." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/31356.
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Accurate measurements and predictions of surface CO₂ fluxes are needed to quantify biogeochemical reaction rates in unsaturated geologic media and soils. However, no standard appears to exist for establishing the accuracy of field measurements of soil respiration rates. As a result, a technique to measure CO₂ fluxes from the soil surface to the atmosphere was recently developed and verified in mesocosms over the range of CO₂ fluxes reported for field conditions. The method, termed the dynamic closed chamber (DCC), was shown to accurately measure CO₂ fluxes from ground surface to the atmosphere in mesocosms. The main advantage of this direct technique is the almost instantaneous estimation of the CO₂ flux. Although the DCC is a promising technique, its ability to accurately quantify surface CO₂ flux under field conditions remains to be verified. The field application of the DCC is investigated in this thesis with a particular focus on quantifying reaction rates in waste-rock piles at the Key Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. It should, however, be noted that the dominant geochemical reactions in the two waste-rock piles at the Key Lake mine were not typical of acid rock drainage (ARD) waste-rock piles. The CO₂ fluxes measured in this study occur in the organic material underlying the waste rocks, in contrast to ARD waste-rock piles where O₂ consumption and CO₂ production are the results of sulphide oxidation and carbonate buffering. This work provided a complete suite of measurements required to characterize spatial distribution of CO₂ fluxes on larger-scale studies of waste-rock piles. There has been no previous field-scale study to quantify CO₂ fluxes across a waste-rock pile. The ability of the DCC method to accurately quantify field soil respiration was demonstrated by comparing the DCC fluxes to those obtained using two other CO₂ flux measurement techniques: the static closed chamber (SCC) and eddy covariance (EC) methods. The DCC yielded comparable data but had distinct advantages over the two other methods in terms of speed and repeatability. The DCC was also used to investigate CO₂ fluxes under the climatic variables (e.g., rainfall and evaporation) that affect soil water content at the Deilmann north (DNWR) and Deilmann south (DSWR) waste-rock piles, at the Key Lake uranium mine. The effects of rainfall events on waste-rock surface-water conditions and CO₂ fluxes were of short duration. A simple model for predicting the effects of soil water content on CO₂ diffusion coefficient and concentration profiles was developed. The model was verified with measured CO₂ fluxes obtained from mesa-scale columns of unsaturated sand. Verification of the model showed good agreement between predicted and measured data. The model was subsequently used to predict CO₂ diffusion and concentration profiles in response to changes in soil water contents in the piles and also to predict surface CO₂ fluxes from the DNWR and DSWR for a 6-d test period [August 1 (day 3) to August 6 (day 8) 2002] following a 72.9 mm precipitation event over the initial 48-h [July 30 (day 1) to July 31 (day 2) 2002]. The model predicted surface CO₂ fluxes trends that were very similar to the measured surface CO₂ fluxes from the DNWR and DSWR piles during the test period. Based on the tests conducted in this thesis the DCC method has shown to be suitable for field applications to quantify CO₂ fluxes and to characterize the spatial and temporal dynamics of CO₂ fluxes from unsaturated C-horizon soils and waste-rock piles.Applied Science, Faculty of
Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of
Graduate
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Shcherbakova, Elena. "Geochemical and hydrological aspects of interactions between water and mine waste." Licentiate thesis, Luleå : Luleå tekniska universitet/Chemical Engineering and Geosciences/Applied Geology, 2006. http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1757/2006/24/index.html.
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Martin, W. "Recovery of impregnated gold from waste mine timber through biological degradation." Thesis, Cape Technikon, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2156.
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Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Technikon, 2000.The large quantities of wood chips produced at mines from damaged underground timber contain gold that cannot be completely recovered by cyanidation. A fungus that can degrade a portion of the wood matrix will allow the gold that was previously locked up, to come into contact with the cyanide solution during beneficiation, thereby improving recoveries. The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium produces enzymes that use the organic compounds found in lignin as substrate. Consequently, the fungus is able to selectively break down lignin, which is one of the major components of wood. Chips sampled from Vaal Reef Mine contained between 2 and 5 mg/kg gold. The main source of gold in the chips was determined to be impregnated gold-bearing ore and discrete gold particles. Direct cyanidation resulted in around 60 per cent recovery prior to biological treatment. Despite relatively high weight losses caused to the chips as a result of treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium gold recovery only increased 10 per cent after 4 weeks treatment compared to direct recovery without treatment.
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Ricci, Riccardo. "Laboratory study of grouted macadams impregnated with mine waste geopolymeric binder." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2012. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/3978/.
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A new type of pavement has been gaining popularity over the last few years in Europe. It comprises a surface course with a semi-flexible material that provides significant advantages in comparison to both concrete and conventional asphalt, having both rut resistance and a degree of flexibility. It also provides good protection against the ingress of water to the foundation, since it has an impermeable surface.
The semi-flexible material, generally known as grouted macadam, comprises an open-graded asphalt skeleton with 25% to 35% voids into which a cementitious slurry is grouted. This hybrid mixture provides good rut resistance and a surface highly resistant to fuel and oil spillage. Such properties allow it to be used in industrial areas, airports and harbours, where those situations are frequently associated with heavy and slow traffic.
Grouted Macadams constitute a poorly understood branch of pavement technology and have generally been relegated to a role in certain specialist pavements whose performance is predicted on purely empirical evidence. Therefore, the main objectives of this project were related to better understanding the properties of this type of material, in order to predict its performance more realistically and to design pavements incorporating grouted macadam more accurately.
Based on a standard mix design, several variables were studied during this project in order to characterise the behaviour of Grouted Macadams in general, and the influence of those variables on the fundamental properties of the final mixture.
In this research project, one approach was used to the design of pavements incorporating Grouted Macadams: a traditional design method, based on laboratory determined of the stiffness modulus and the compressive strength.
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Gosling, Christine. "Co-disposal of rejects from coal and sand mining operations in the Blue Mountains : a feasibility study /." View thesis, 1999. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030822.133548/index.html.
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Blackburn, Cameron. "Waste / Mine: Re Interpreting mans' connection to the landscape through the conservation of a tin mine on Devils Peak." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13016.
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Includes bibliographical references.The starting point of this study begins whilst driving through a field of vineyards just outside of Cape Town, about 15 kilometers from Napier. A sea of agricultural formlessness and sameness. This scene was interrupted by a large white blanket covering most of the hill side. It appeared ridged in its form yet fluid enough to take the shape of the landscape. The vast scale (or scale-less-ness) of the landscape became somewhat reduced to an area small enough to comprehend. This object lay seemingly foreign and unfamiliar and thus estranging my view of the landscape. This led me to question its meaning. A google earth image of the exact site fortuitously captured the assembly of this artefact. The image illustrates its agricultural use, but more interestingly its reveals a series of processes of working upon the landscape. The large seemingly monolithic object reveals its individual parts, method of assembly and human labour. Embedded within the artefact too are energies- human and mechanical- which are impossible to observe in the finished artefact. Through being able to unveil the various methods and steps of this process made richer my knowledge of the landscape and therefore, I argue, helped better understand the human connection to landscape.
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Neuner, Matthew. "Water flow through unsaturated mine waste rock in a region of permafrost." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6469.
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A field experiment was constructed at the Diavik Diamond Mine in northern Canada to investigate water flow through unsaturated piles of mine waste rock in a region of permafrost. Two test piles 15 m-high were built on collection systems 60 m by 50 m, each consisting of lysimeters and a large impermeable HDPE liner, and instrumentation was installed within the piles to measure moisture content, temperature, and tension head. Upper collection lysimeters were installed near the test piles to investigate infiltration, evaporation, and the effect of the thermal regime in the upper 2 m of the waste rock. Hydrogeological characterization was performed at a range of scales to relate hydraulic properties of the fine-grained matrix to the test piles, of which, roughly half is estimated to be boulders. After the initial 1.5 year of monitoring, under drier than average conditions, net infiltration did not reach a depth of 2 m. Applied rainfall events raised the rainfall to the annual mean at one of the test piles, where a wetting front propagated to a depth of about 7 m during the summer and autumn of 2007. Infiltration into frozen waste rock froze and was then remobilized with thaw propagation, and thermal controls on flow were significant throughout the year. Rapid flow with high spatial variability was detected in response to a high-intensity applied rainfall event. Rainfall with recurrence intervals less than 10 years produced flow with less spatial variability and lower flow rates. A calibrated numerical model was developed using VS2D to aid in the description of the flow system at the upper collection lysimeters and the test piles. Solute mass loading estimates were dictated primarily by the flow behaviour, rather than by changes in solute concentrations. Loading from one of the test piles during July 2007 was twice the average rate of approximately 0.8 g SO₄²−/d/m².
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Urrutia, Varese Pablo Luis. "Assessment of cover systems for waste rock in the Antamina Mine, Peru." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/43635.
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Cover systems have been included as a closure and long-term planning strategy for the estimated 1,539 Mt of waste rock at the Antamina Mine (Peru). A cover study was initiated to determine the most suitable type of cover system for the waste rock dumps at Antamina. The purpose of the four cover systems proposed in this study was to reduce net percolation to underlying waste rock via the combination of a low-permeability and a store-and-release cover, thereby limiting weathering and metal leaching from the waste rock. The low-permeability cover works as a barrier to percolation, whereas the store-and-release layer acts as a medium growth for vegetation, accumulates water during rain events and later releases most of it back to the environment through evapotranspiration.
Four field-scale cover systems were constructed of native, low permeability materials and topsoil at Antamina. Climate data, runoff and infiltration through the covers were continuously monitored for one year in the field. A numerical model was created with the purpose of predicting the covers systems’ long term performance and the assessment of possible modification(s) to the design.
Results after the first year indicate that the proposed cover systems reduced net percolation to the underlying waste rock from 70% (for the control lysimeter with no cover installed) to 53%-63%. No runoff was generated from any of the lysimeters and evapotranspiration is the only mechanism available to reduce net percolation through the cover systems. Materials characteristics and construction methodology were recognized as the potential reasons for the observed performance of the cover systems. Recommendations were given to improve the performance of the cover systems by further reducing the permeability of low-permeability layers and/or decreasing the thickness of the store-and-release layers of the cover systems. The feasibility of these recommendations depends on Antamina’s site specific conditions and remains to be evaluated. Finally, it was recognized that the data available to date is insufficient to draw major conclusions for the performance of each independent cover system. The Antamina cover study will continue over the following years and conclusions presented herein will be verified when new field data becomes available.
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Hossein, Mohsen. "Role of ettringite formation in the stabilizationsolidification of sulphide-bearing mine waste." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36605.
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Disposal of acid generating sulphidic tailings is a major environmental problem facing the Canadian as well as the international mining and mineral industries. If the deposited tailings are not treated the sulphide minerals oxidise and create an acidic environment. The leachate from such a site is rich in soluble heavy metals and has the potential to contaminate the groundwater as well as the local surface watercourses. This thesis explores an alternative treatment method via ettringite formation, which stabilises and solidifies these highly reactive tailings.Ettringite has the capacity of uptaking other metals into its structure by isomorphous substitution. Ettringite has also a negative surface charge, which makes it a good adsorbent for positively charged cations. Furthermore, the high pH solution required for ettringite formation will cause the precipitation of heavy metals from the solution. Therefore, ettringite in a lime-remediated sulphate rich acid mine drainage system could serve as a physical and chemical stabilization agent, which could also reduce the remediation costs over other commercially available stabilization technology.
In order to assess the feasibility of forming ettringite in sulphide rich tailings, a thermodynamic model was used to investigate the optimal geochemical parameters. The model predicts that ettringite is stable over a wide range of compositions and pH. Results presented in this thesis show that the sulphate content of the tailings samples could limit the precipitation of ettringite, and monosulphate could be the end-precipitate.
Long-term leachability and durability analysis showed that ettringite can be formed as a stable mineral in lime, fly ash, and aluminum rich sulphidic tailings samples. Ettringite formation reduced the leachability of the heavy metals and improved the geotechnical characteristics of the treated samples. Freeze and thaw analyses showed that formation of ettringite produce a low permeability and high strength tailings sample capable of withstanding harsh environmental fluctuations.
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Anwer, Muhammad. "Ecology of five plant species growing on lead and zinc mine waste." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.367233.
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Mitchell, Paul Brian. "The application of industrial minerals in the control of pollution emanating from metalliferous mine waste." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.293379.
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Waller, Caroline P. "Dispersion of heavy metals and arsenic from mine waste into adjacent farmland in west Cornwall." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.318183.
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Barkhordarian, A. "Laboratory studies of pumping characteristics of processed liquid tailings with particular reference to stability and time dependant properties." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.384642.
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Bamber, Andrew Sherliker. "Integrated mining, pre-concentration and waste disposal systems for the increased sustainability of hard rock metal mining." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/779.
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The integration of automated ore pre-concentration and waste disposal functions into the hard rock metal mining system, prior to treatment by conventional grinding and flotation, is proposed as a novel interpretation of Mine-Mill Integration for improving the economics and environmental impact of exploiting deep, low-grade or otherwise marginal mineral deposits. The proposed approach seeks to reject coarse, barren waste from the ore stream as early as possible in the mining cycle, and safely dispose of it as backfill underground. The concept is proposed as a Lean Manufacturing approach to hard rock mining, as an alternative to improving the economics of mining simply by increasing the mining rate. Lean Manufacturing philosophy seeks to design out overburden, smooth production, and eliminate waste from the system. It is suggested that the introduction of these systems into the hard rock mining process addresses all three of these areas of Lean thinking, and is thus an important approach to be considered for surface or underground mines wishing to simultaneously improve efficiency, economics and environmental performance, thus increasing the life, and the sustainability of the operation. The application of integrated mining, processing and waste disposal systems, where appropriate, is proposed as a strategy for the development of efficient new mining operations, or alternately the expansion of production at existing mines.
Technologies specific to the success of the approach such as automated ore pre-concentration systems, composite fill preparation and delivery systems, as well as continuous mechanized mining methods are explored. The impacts and benefits of applying these integrated technologies to the mining system are defined and quantified through research, testwork, engineering design and systems analysis. Custom geo-metallurgical evaluation tools incorporating mineralogical, metallurgical, geophysical and geotechnical methods have been developed to allow the assessment of ores in terms of their potential for the adoption of the proposed approach. A computerized parametric evaluation model has also been developed to quantify the potential impacts and benefits using data from this testwork. A wide range of case studies have been investigated with positive results, and important conclusions are drawn towards the potential for application of the concept as a generalized case.
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Gizikoff, Katherine Gould. "Spoil management and revegetation success on waste rock dumps at a southern interior B.C. copper mine." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29031.
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The primary aim of this study was to investigate vegetation production and soil management factors influencing forage establishment on the waste rock dumps at a Southern Interior B.C. copper mine. Total plant cover on the waste rock dumps ranged from less than 5 to greater than 80 percent. Vegetation and spoil from the major reclaimed sites were analyzed to determine possible causes for the differences in plant cover. Test case areas, which varied in production, topography, and treatment, were then selected for an investigation into the relationships between spoil and vegetation variables.
Waste rock and overburden glacial till materials were generally low in N, P, and Mg. Spoil N and K levels varied throughout each reclaimed site, likely as a result of fertilizer placement. Significant positive relationships were found between spoil N and grass cover and spoil K and both grass and legume cover. P levels in legumes from most fertilized sites were still in a deficiency range.
A negative relationship between coarse fragment content and legume cover was observed. High coarse fragment content, accompanied with low water holding capacity and dry climatic conditions, suggests that moisture deficiencies are likely a critical problem for revegetation success, particularly on the lower portions of the slope faces. High bulk density values on the flat terraces
indicated that compaction could be impeding root growth.
Multivariate cluster analysis, based on total percent plant cover and percent composition legumes, was used to categorize all study sites into four vegetation production groups: low cover, grass cover, mixed grass and legume cover, and high production legume dominated cover. Spoil characteristics that differentiated between groups were: N, P, K, Mg, pH, coarse fragment content, and bulk density. This classification system will assist in identifying the management requirements of each vegetation type, such as: level and type of fertilization, overburden capping to reduce coarse fragment content, and scarification. Multiple regression analysis was used to generate equations for predicting biomass production from spoil N, P, K, Mg, pH, and coarse fragment content.
Reclamation costs were estimated and it was demonstrated that grass cover and mixed grass and legume cover types were the most desirable. Although costs per hectare were lowest for the low cover type, efficiency of reclamation dollars (dollars invested per tonne forage produced) was also lowest for this type. Establishment of a legume dominated cover type may not be desirable due to forage quality considerations: Cu:Mo ratios in legume foliage averaged less than the recommended 2:1 for cattle grazing.Science, Faculty of
Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for
Graduate
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Zamzow, Kendra Lynell. "Microbial communities utilizing biodiesel waste and ethanol in treatment of acid mine drainage." abstract and full text PDF (free order & download UNR users only), 2007. http://0-gateway.proquest.com.innopac.library.unr.edu/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3289456.
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Ekblom, Sanna. "Treatment of Historic, Sulphide-rich Mine Waste from Ljusnarsberg Using Alkaline By-products." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för naturvetenskap och teknik, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-51834.
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Alkaline by-products were used in a leaching test to study their effect on highly weathered, sulphide-rich mine waste from Ljusnarsberg for the attempt to neutralize the leachate and immobilize trace metals through precipitation of secondary minerals. Leaching was performed at liquid/solid ratio of 0.5-20 with 10 % alkaline material. It was found that immobilization of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) were successful in systems able to neutralize the mine waste. The systems with a lower pH increase (4-5) leached an increased amount of both Zn and Cd compared to the reference. Fly ashes are found to be the most effective material regarding pH and metal immobilization but are also found to have the highest increase of molybdenum and antimony, trace metals originating from the ashes. High chloride content is another concern regarding fly ashes, as high levels in the leachate would cause a concern for the nearby fresh water.
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Hossein, Mohsen. "Role of ettringite formation in the stabilization/solidification of sulphide-bearing mine waste." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0030/NQ64573.pdf.
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Lin, Tai-Yi Debbie. "Modeling the 3D net infiltration distribution at the Equity Silver Mine waste dump." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/23635.
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The Equity Silver Mine site has been experiencing problems with ARD at its waste dump facility since 1981. A protective engineered soil cover was constructed over the top of the entire waste dump with the purpose of reducing ARD by impeding water and oxygen infiltration into the waste rock. Currently, there is a discrepancy between the 15% actual the 5% previously predicted infiltration. A new model illustrating the 3D net infiltration distribution over the surface of the Equity Silver Mine waste dump is presented in this thesis.
The 3D infiltration model was developed through the integration of soil-atmosphere moisture flux and slope energy modeling. Verified soil properties from previous Equity Silver Mine waste dump soil cover modeling were used, in combination with updated climate data, to carry out the model development. The 3D models show that the difference in net infiltration at various slopes across the waste dump can vary as much as 15%, with infiltration of up to 30% on the north-facing side. Approximate quantification for the total flow into the waste rock layer showed that for the year of 2004, there can be up to 12% of total annual precipitation. Furthermore, it was also established that 35% of total infiltration into the cover occurs through the horizontal and south-facing dump surfaces, while 65% of the infiltration occurs through the north-facing and other sloped surfaces. Infiltration and flow increased by 42% when sloped Qnet values were applied. Areas of high infiltration over the surface of the waste dump were consistent for all net infiltration models developed. With the high infiltrative problem areas identified, Equity Silver site personnel can now use the newly developed 3D net infiltration model to navigate the locations where soil cover improvement would need to be implemented.
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Dockrey, John William. "Microbiology and geochemistry of neutral pH waste rock from the Antamina mine, Peru." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/23749.
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The microbial populations of waste rock piles and field cells producing neutral pH drainage at the Antamina mine were characterized to better understand processes which affect current and future drainage quality. Naturally weathered waste rock samples were collected and examined using a variety of high resolution imaging, geochemical, mineralogical, and microbiological techniques. Despite the relatively young age of the waste rock piles (1.5 years), populations dominated by neutrophilic sulfur oxidizers as large as 10⁸ bacteria per gram were found. An exponential relationship was found between the size of microbial communities and the contemporary sulfate loadings. These results indicate that the microbial populations rapidly grow to reach a mass which is proportional to the rate of substrate release, and then decrease as the host rocks reactivity diminishes. One sample from a field cell producing pH 6.2 drainage had a mixed population of neutrophiles and acidophiles capable of both S⁰ and Fe²⁺ oxidation. A mini-column study was conducted to determine the catalytic effect of microbiology in various rock types. No catalysis was identified in the sulfur concentrations of most mini-column series, with the exception of the one mini-column series constructed of material containing acidophilic S⁰ and Fe²⁺ oxidizing bacteria, which demonstrated strong microbial catalysis. It was also determined that concentrations of Mo as low as 10mg/l were toxic to these acidophilic bacteria, and dissolved Mo may inhibit the establishment of these geochemically important bacteria. A massive sulfide from this material was thoroughly examined using high resolution imaging techniques. Biofilms of bacteria were found upon and within a porous schwertmannite precipitate. The mixed population of neutrophilic and acidophilic bacteria and circumneutral drainage pH implies that the bacteria are living in acidic microenvironments surrounding sulfide minerals in which ferric iron leaching can take place. The large microbial populations and the close correlation between geochemistry and biology described in this study, emphasize the importance of biological processes in determining current and future drainage quality emanating from the mine waste.
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Dowding, Catherine E. "The oxidative degradation of organic contaminants using a manganese oxide-containing mine waste." Thesis, Durham University, 2008. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2269/.
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Manganese oxide tailings material, a waste product generated during Mn ore extraction processes in South Africa, has been assessed in terms of its potential to oxidatively breakdown organic contaminants. Azo dyes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (anthracene) show oxidative interactions with the tailings, resulting in the formation of products which are more environmentally favourable than the parent compound. Tailings samples from five mines were characterised to establish the redox reactivity of the material. Based on chemical and mineralogical data the tailings were grouped into the carbonate-rich Mamatwan type (MT) tailings (Mamatwan and Gloria mines), the Mn oxide- enriched Wessels type (WT) tailings (Wessels and Nchwaning mines) and the Mn oxide enriched Hotazel type (HT) tailings (Hotazel mine). The tailings are net-alkaline and non acid generating with a point of zero charge below pH 4. The average Mn oxidation state of the three tailings types ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 in the order HT>WT>MT. Despite a low surface area (1.5 to 6.4 m(^2) .g(^-1)) the tailings show a substantial (0.5 to 3.0%) 'easily' reducible, reactive Mn phase as well as a large pool of more recalcitrant dithionite-extractable Mn. Thus the tailings material displays both 'quick and slow release' oxidative capacity. The oxidative decolorisation of acid azo dyes acid orange 7 (AO 7) and acid yellow 36 (AY 36) by the Mn tailings is highly pH dependent, with increased oxidation occurring at lower pH. The reaction mechanism for the oxidation of AO 7 by the tailings has many similarities to enzymatic degradation of the dye observed with white rot fungi. The reaction, initiated on the phenolic group, occurs via successive one electron transfers from the dye molecule to the Mn oxide. A series of radical reactions occur resulting m the asymmetrical cleavage of the azo bond and the generation of terminal reaction products 1,2 naphthoquinone and 4- hydroxybenzenesulfonate. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) demonstrated that initial sorption of AO 7 is pH dependent and outer-sphere. A pronounced lag phase exists between the initial sorption of the dye to a Mn oxide surface and the initiation of oxidation. This lag phase can indicate that either the transfer of the initial electron is rate limiting or that correct orientation followed by inner- sphere complexation is necessary before oxidation can take place. The reaction mechanism proposed for the oxidation of AY 36 is initiated at the amino moiety and proceeds via successive, one electron transfers from the dye to the Mn tailings. The reaction pathway involves the formation of a number of colourless intermediate products, some of which hydrolyse in a Mn oxide-independent step. The terminal oxidation products were observed to bep-benzoquinone and 3-hydroxybenzenesulfonate.Light, both UV and ambient, and auxiliary compounds such as acetate buffer and salts did not reduce the decolorisation capacity of the tailings. Increased buffer strength enhanced decolorisation and addition of Na(_2)S0(_4) in the presence of buffer increased the initial oxidation of AO 7. The decolorisation capacity of the Mn tailings showed durability with 90% colour removal observed 60 days after daily dye replenishment. Drying anthracene-spiked Mn tailings, synthetic Mn oxide and calcite water slurries resulted in anthracene oxidation to anthraquinone (6-30% oxidation). Small but significant (4%) anthracene oxidation was also observed when anthracene spiked water was evaporated from quartz and a clean glass surface. No anthracene oxidation was apparent without the evaporation of water at pH > 5. The HT tailings oxidised up to 30% anthracene when dried, the most substantial oxidation took place below 5% gravimetric water content. Evaporation of anthracene-spiked cyclohexane slurries resulted in the same observed oxidation from both Mn tailings and calcite. It could not be established whether elecfron transfer was occurring between the Mn oxide phase of the tailings and the anthracene or whether the transformation was solely a surface mediated phenomenon with oxygen being used as the elecfron acceptor. Under fully hydrated conditions the Mn oxide tailings oxidised 75% of anthracene to anthraquinone at pH values less than 4.5. This would suggest that the Mn tailings can oxidise anthracene and sufficient mineral-contaminant contact can be achieved despite the low water solubility of the compound.
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Walker, Thomas Alexander Bruce. "The use of organic amendments in the reclamation of acidic coal mine waste." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.293389.
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Guru, Rajesh. "REMEDIATION OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE IMPACTED SOIL USING WATER TREATMENT WASTE AND PHYTOREMEDIATION." OpenSIUC, 2017. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2237.
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Coal Mining is important to our modern way of life. It was an important industry in the last century in the USA. These mining activities caused habitat destruction by disrupting the soils. The disrupted soils contain a high amount of heavy metals and sulfide-containing minerals such as pyrite. In presence of water and oxygen, these pyrites form an acidic solution termed as Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) which contaminates the soil and water. The soils affected by AMD are unstable and prone to erosion. The current study mainly focused on evaluating low-cost, green, technologies for the treatment of AMD impacted soils. The first step of this study was to check the immobilization capacity of locally available industrial by-products from drinking water treatment residuals and to increase the pH of contaminated soils. The second step of this study was to check the metal uptake potential of some known hyperaccumulator plant species like Vetiver and Pokeweed that are known to survive in adverse conditions. The study was carried out on soils from an abandoned coal mine site in southern Illinois. These soils were mixed with different rates of water treatment wastes (WTW’s) and manure. The above mentioned hyperaccumulators were grown on the amended soil. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the dependence of plant growth and metal uptake on different rates of WTW’s and manure and metal immobilization capacity of WTW amended soil. In the experiment, both plants were able to grow in the soils amended with WTW’s. The effect of WTW’s on soil pH and ORP was clearly visible; metal immobilizing capacity of WTW’s was less prominent apparently due to the extremely low metal content of the original soil collected from the abovementioned mine site. Phytoextraction capacity was studied for Vetiver grass and Pokeweed. It was found that Pokeweed has more phytoextraction capacity than Vetiver grass and both have complex root systems which can retard soil erosion in mine reclamation areas.
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Matilda, Palo. "Evaluation of the applicability of geophysical methods when characterizing mine waste in Yxsjöberg, Sweden." Thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Geovetenskap och miljöteknik, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-82837.
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Smaltjärnen tailings repository located in Yxsjöberg, Sweden, attracts researchers with questions regarding characterization and potential re-mining. This thesis continuous geophysical characterization done by researchers from the Exploration Geophysics department at Luleå University of Technology but using new data from 2019. Geophysical methods used were self potential (SP), direct current resistivity (DCR), induced polarization (IP), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). SP data were collected using a fixed base procedure and equipment from EMIT. Data were processed in MATLAB and presented in Oasis Montaj/ Geosoft software, yielding results difficult to interpret. Similar pattern was seen in previous investigations from 2016. However, some discrepancies were noticed, and more work is needed in order to validate these data. Therefore, data is presented without any interpretation. RES2DINV inversion software by Geotomo Software (now maintained by Aarhus GeoSoftware) was used for inversion of DCR data to produce four 2D resistivity sections, and the 3D resistivity model was made by Jingyu Gao with his software. DCR data were acquired by using Terrameter LS by ABEM and measuring using a roll-along procedure and dipole-dipole configuration. Results show consistency between vertical variations at profile crossings from different profiles. Three layers are indicated from results, interpreted to contain mine tailings and quaternary deposits, at some locations interpreted to be water-saturated, and bedrock. No IP effect is seen at Smaltjärnen. GPR data were processed in GPRSoft® PRO produced by Geoscanners to understand internal structures and water table, by using zero-offset surveying with 250 MHz antenna from Malå Geoscience and 300 MHz antenna from Geoscanners. Since the tailings of Smaltjärnen consists of very thin layers, the results are complex to interpret. Hyperbolas and layers, along with other more uncertain patterns, are seen in radargrams, and further research is needed to fully understand the images.
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Kavanagh, Peter. "Impacts of high arsenic concentrations in South West England on human health and agriculture." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.300619.
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Lee, Matthew R. "The effects of the disposal of copper mine tailings on littoral meiofaunal assemblages of the Chanaral area of northern Chile." Thesis, Bangor University, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.367316.
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Barajas-Aceves, Martha. "Soil microbial biomass and organic matter dynamics in metal-contaminated soils." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.260604.
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Peterson, Holly Esther. "Unsaturated hydrology, evaporation, and geochemistry of neutral and acid rock drainage in highly heterogeneous mine waste rock at the Antamina Mine, Peru." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/46492.
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Physical and geochemical heterogeneities in mine waste rock complicate the prediction and assessment of waste rock effluent water quantity and quality. The objective of this research is to provide a holistic conceptual understanding of the hydrological and geochemical processes that control effluent water quantity and quality, and the complex interactions among processes at the field scale. To this end, a prodigious dataset from three experimental waste-rock piles at the Antamina Cu-Zn-Mo skarn-deposit mine was compiled and analyzed. Analyses included solid-phase mineralogy and physical characteristics; effluent and pore-water hydrology and geochemistry; and an aqueous tracer study.
The instrumented piles (36 m x 36 m x 10 m) are each composed of a single rock type and are exposed to almost identical atmospheric conditions, isolating the effect of rock type on hydrological regimes. Physical waste rock heterogeneities result in highly variable hydrology that is strongly dependent on material particle size distributions and especially the presence of large boulders. The hydrological regimes include wide ranges of velocities for matrix flow (<2-12 cm/day), preferential flow (40-2000 cm/day), and pressure-induced wetting fronts (7-105 cm/day), all of which are strongly influenced by antecedent water content and precipitation patterns resulting from a two-season (wet/dry) climate. Evaporation is also highly variable among waste rock types on annual (24%-75% of precipitation) and multi-year timescales (28%-59% of precipitation).
Mineralogical heterogeneities result in material-specific, temporally and spatially variable circum-neutral to acidic geochemical conditions (pH 4.6-8.5). Other geochemical controls on solute concentrations include precipitation and dilution of secondary minerals, sorption, and pH effects from CO₂ degassing. Furthermore, hydrology strongly influences effluent aqueous geochemistry, leading to solute concentrations and loadings that can fluctuate by several orders of magnitude between wet and dry seasons (e.g., Pile 2 Cu loadings: August-2010, 1.8x10-7 mg/(kg·wk); February-2011, 1.6x10-1 mg/(kg·wk)). Hydrological controls on aqueous geochemistry include seasonal solute accumulation; solute flushing through matrix flow paths of variable velocities; mixing and dilution at the pile base; and seasonal changes in moisture content that control internal CO₂ concentrations. The results highlight the need to account for unsaturated hydrology during the prediction and assessment of aqueous geochemistry from waste rock.
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Jenkins, Joy D. "Role of flow and organic carbon on acid mine drainage remediation in waste rock." Diss., Connect to online resource, 2006. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3239448.
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Lewis, Edward Marc Howard. "A numerical investigation into the fluid and containment transport properties of mine waste rocks." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.402137.
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Lycksam, Jonas. "Metal Mobilization in Mine Waste as a Result of Oxidation and Bacterial Mediated Activity." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Kemiska institutionen, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-95210.
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Sibanda, Lesley Kudakwashe. "Repurposing of mine waste: an alternative management approach to gold tailings in South Africa." Master's thesis, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30858.
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The large volumes of waste generated during gold beneficiation are a major pollution concern in South Africa. To remove these potential pollution risks in perpetuity, non-conventional approaches to mine waste management are required which avoid land disposal of “unwanted” material. This dissertation explores the opportunities, drivers and barriers for the re-purposing of gold tailings in South Africa. The thesis draws on a comprehensive literature review, analysis of information and data in the public domain, and semi-structured interviews with relevant experts. The research findings identified numerous potential uses for gold tailings including reusing gold mine tailings in making bricks, ceramics, cement additives, backfill, stone paper and aggregate material for construction. The derelict tailing dumps can also be used for recreation purposes, tourism and many other land use applications. The study showed that despite existing opportunities, the application of mine waste as feedstock for other purposes in South Africa is currently constrained. According to the findings, this can be credited to numerous inter-related factors, such as inadequate technology development, lack of an enabling legislative framework, high short-term costs, and potential environmental risks associated with hazardous components in the waste. Overcoming these barriers will require innovative, transdisciplinary approaches, and effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including academia, private business entities (waste users) and regulatory bodies (government).
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Chikusa, Chimwemwe Mainsfield. "Pollution caused by mine dumps and its control." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005603.
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All mine dumps are a point source of either physical, chemical or both forms of pollution. Physical pollution includes the physical site coverage of the dump, slumping of parts of the dams and dust that may originate from it (air pollution). Chemical pollution from, or related to the mine dumps include the dominant acid drainage (which contains heavy metals), radioactivity, electromagnetic radiation, noise and chemicals released from the mineral processing stage. In one way or the other, exposure to these pollution forms is detrimental to the human health and his environment. It is this fact that urges the public, government and the responsible mining companies to find ways of monitoring the pollution and stopping it, preferably at the source. Where it can not be stopped, techniques of reducing it, or containing it have been, and are still being developed. Personal protection is the priority. Pollution exposure to the general public is minimised as much as possible. Pollution control techniques that employ less expensive, natural, self-sustaining elements suitable for the environment such as wetlands and vegetation are recommended. The artificial short term and often expensive alternatives are of secondary priority. However, choice of which technique to use is based on the merit of each problem, knowing that chemicals act faster but are effective for a short period as compared to the natural systems. Pollution management is the critical part of the whole process. This involves decision making on courses of action and financial allocation on the part of both the polluter and the monitoring department/agent. The ability to effectively manage pollution programmes is achieved these days with the aid of computers. It is emphasised that pollution control should be handled in an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach manner. This is because pollution is a question of life and death, hence every individual remains accountable to it. Keeping the public and the concerned parties educated, informed and welcoming their concerns on the environmental issues related to the mine dumps generated in a mining venture is essential in the modern days of environmental public awareness, or otherwise face the public lath.
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Wolcott, Lisa Terwilliger. "Coal waste deposition and the distribution of freshwater mussels in the Powell River, Virginia." Thesis, This resource online, 1990. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03032009-040400/.
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Burkey, Michael F. "A REVIEW OF IRON SULFIDES AND OXIDES IN COAL MINE WASTE, HUFF RUN WATERSHED, OHIO." Kent State University Honors College / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1525905282950671.
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Song, Meining. "Understanding the mechanisms of oxidation of pyritic shale in mining waste and the influence of shale properties on acid mine drainage in the Pilbara Basin." University of Western Australia. Centre for Petroleum, Fuels and Energy, 2010. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2010.0107.
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[Truncated abstract] The influence of environmental conditions and properties of pyritic shale in the mining waste from Mt. Whaleback in Western Australia, in particular the inclusions and encapsulation of pyrite on the oxidation of pyritic shale and its subsequent acid mine drainage, was studied by employing an isothermal batch reactor system and QEMSCAN technique. The experimental technique was validated by comparing the experimental results obtained in this study with the literature data. It was found that the presence of water significantly accelerates the rate of shale oxidation. Weathering of the shale samples was found to influence the O2 consumption rate. It was also found that shale properties have a major effect on the oxidation rate and thereby affect the acid generation. Static test methods (Sobek and Lawrence) were employed to test the Neutralisation Potential (NP) of more than 100 actual and composite samples including pyritic shale samples, rock samples, mineral samples, various pyrite-mineral, pyrite-shale, and pseudo-shale blends. The influence of sample properties (bulk elemental composition, and mineralogy), test technique (Sobek and Lawrence) and associated variables (acid strength and volume) on the acid neutralisation potential of the samples was studied. It was found that the Sobek method produced consistently higher NP results under comparable acid conditions to those obtained with the Lawrence method. The theoretical NP values of individual minerals were calculated based on the mineral composition combined with the acid neutralising equations and ideal chemical formula. ... To experimentally model the major mineral phases, 11 minerals were used to produce pyrite-mineral blends and pseudo-shales, whose compositions mimic those of the actual shales studied. Mineral blends were employed to evaluate and contrast their individual acid generation or neutralisation behaviour with binary and higher order interactions. Blends of pyrite with some selected shales were also employed in this study. It was found that interactions can occur between the multiple mineral components which can enhance the rate of acid generation beyond that of the individual behaviour. It was found that the products from the pre-oxidation of shales, the properties and morphology of a sample such as the surface area, encapsulation, the mineralogy and pH all play a significant role in the acid generation and neutralisation rates. However, the absolute rate of acid generation appears to be most sensitive to the components such as Fe3+, which contribute to its reaction mechanisms. This investigation has provided a scientific insight into the acid generation and neutralisation behaviour of pyritic shale in relation to its mineralogy. It was found that the relative instantaneous rates of acid generation and consumption for individual minerals can be significantly different to that of their total potentials for acid generation and neutralisation. The significantly different behaviour of the actual and pseudo shales suggests that at low pH, there may be other mechanisms underlying the net capacity and rates of shales to generate or consume acid than bulk mineralogy. These findings have significant implications to the mining industry operating in reactive grounds.
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Jacobs, Anthony David. "Quantifying the mineral carbonation potential of mine waste material : a new parameter for geospatial estimation." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/50904.
Full textAbstract:
Direct aqueous mineral carbonation is a CO₂ sequestration method that can trap anthropogenic carbon dioxide as a thermodynamically stable carbonate. Ultramafic rocks considered waste at mining operations are targeted as the substrate source for carbonation in this research. Using mining waste to permanently fix CO₂ is a motivating factor for promoting industrial mineral carbonation as a viable carbon sequestration option.
Experimental direct aqueous mineral carbonation was carried out on proposed Turnagain waste rock, a low-grade, high tonnage nickel sulphide deposit in northern British Columbia. 45 % magnesium silicate to magnesium carbonate conversion was achieved in two hours. The successful sequestration of CO₂ using mining waste rock and the opportunity of shared mining and mineral processing costs of a dual mining/mineral carbonation operation can aid in reducing economic and energy requirements, identified as key inhibiting factors of industrial mineral carbonation.
The heterogenous mineralogy of ultramafic deposits commonly hosting mining operations makes quantifying the mineral carbonation potential (MCP) of the waste rock challenging. The MCP calculator, a novel Microsoft Excel™ spreadsheet program was developed to estimate the modal mineral abundance of ultramafic rocks for use in MCP estimation. The calculator is intended for use by the mining industry utilising abundant lithogeochemical data as a cost-effective tool in evaluating their deposit as a supplier of substrate material for industrial mineral carbonation operation. The calculator can be tailored to estimate MCP values based on a site specific mineral assemblage. MCP values generated represent composited sample length intervals along exploration drill holes.
Estimation techniques traditionally used by the mining industry for resource estimation were evaluated as methods of geospatially interpolating MCP values. Both inverse distance and ordinary kriging were successful in interpolating MCP values. A capacity of 75 million tonnes of CO₂ within the proposed 28 year surface mine design at Turnagain was calculated. This capacity is significantly lower than the theoretical maximum capacity of 538 million tonnes calculated assuming all MgO within the waste rock is capable of sequestering CO₂ as magnesite (MgCO₃). The research highlights the importance of understanding and quantifying the mineralogy of ultramafic deposits when estimating their potential for mineral carbonation.Applied Science, Faculty of
Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of
Graduate
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Orlandea, Marcela P. "Analysis of water quality data and experimental study of weathering products in mine waste rock." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape17/PQDD_0005/MQ32500.pdf.
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Aranda, Clemente Celeldonio. "Assessment of waste rock weathering characteristics at the Antamina mine based on field cells experiment." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/23646.
Full textAbstract:
The weathering behaviour of waste rock is being evaluated using field cell experiments at the Antamina Mine. The results presented here are a component of a larger study that is being conducted in Antamina, whose objective is to understand the geochemical and hydrological behaviour exhibited by different waste rock types, and their potential operational and post-closure impacts on the environment, in order to identify and implement prevention/mitigation measures.
The waste rock is currently classified into three classes based on metal (zinc, arsenic) and sulfide contents: reactive (A), slightly reactive (B), and non-reactive (C). This thesis presents the analysis only of Class B marble and hornfels material. Particle size was measured through the standard sieving method and Elutriation techniques, and surface area through geometrical estimation and the BET methods. The data gathered was correlated with chemical assay results and complemented with the mineralogical and mineral availability for leaching data obtained using a Mineral Liberation Analyzer. Minerals containing copper, lead, and zinc, and all sulfide minerals were examined.
Seven field kinetic cells were installed with samples having particles of less than 10 cm in diameter. Metal leaching, elemental production rates and release rate trends from two years of data are presented. The relationship between mineral availability and field cells drainage data was investigated. A refined waste rock classification system for Class B was recommended including the incorporation of lithology, mineralogy, mineral availability for leaching, and sulfur-sulfide content.
The diopside marble samples were found to be coarser than the black marble and gray hornfels samples. Large surface were reported in the black marble, this was because a relatively higher proportion of clay minerals were found in this sample.
Acid-base accounting testing reported that all samples were non-acid generating. However, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Sb were reported in higher concentrations in the leachate from the field cells. Solid phase concentrations of these elements were found to increase as the size fractions decreased, but in two diopside samples, Cu, Pb and Zn minerals were available for leaching in high proportion from the coarse particles. The main sources of these elements were chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite.