Pollution of a water course impacted by acid mine drainage in the Imgok creek of the Gangreung coal field,Korea

The purposes of this study are to (i) determine the geochemical characteristics of Imgok creek impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from abandoned coal mines, (ii) to assess the pollution of heavy metals in the stream sediments and soils, and (iii) to identify the chemical form of Fe precipitates collected in the study area where there are 4 abandoned coal mines, which belong to the Grangreung coal field at the eastern part of Korea. AMD generated from mine adits and coal refuse piles shows low pH, and high concentrations of Fe, Al and SO₄, especially in the Youngdong coal mine. In Imgok creek, pH values increased, and total dissolved solids (TDS) values decreased with distance. The concentrations of toxic heavy metals and major cations except Fe decreased by dilution, but the concentration of Fe decreased rapidly due to the formation of precipitates. The quality of groundwater samples did not exceed the Korean drinking-water standard. In the stream sediments, the concentrations of Fe are relatively high in the Youngdong tributary and Imgok creek, but the concentrations of heavy metals are similar to those of unpolluted sediments. Pollution indices of agricultural soils range from 0.28 to 0.47. Yellowish red Fe precipitates collected in the study area turned out to be amorphous or poorly crystallized minerals (determined by X-ray diffraction patterns and Fe_ox/Fe_tot ratios) and to contain chemically bonded SO₄ and OH [determined by infra-red (IR) spectral analysis]. With these, the mol ratios of Fe/S ranging from 4.6 to 6.1 determined by electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) in precipitates strongly support the existence of schwertmannite.     

Hydrogeochemistry of mine, surface and groundwaters from the Sanggok mine creek in the upper Chungju Lake, Republic of Korea

 The Sanggok mine used to be one of the largest lead-zinc mines in the Hwanggangri mining district, Republic of Korea. The present study characterizes the heavy metal contamination in the abandoned Sanggok mine creek on the basis of physico-chemical properties of various kinds of water samples (mine, surface and groundwater). Hydrochemistry of the water samples is characterized by the relatively significant enrichment of Ca²⁺, HCO₃ ^–, NO₃ ^– and Cl^– in the surface and groundwaters, whereas the mine water is relatively enriched in Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, heavy metals, and HCO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2–. The more polluted mine water has a lower pH and higher Eh, conductivity and TDS values. The concentrations of some toxic elements (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, Sr, Pb and Zn) are tens to hundreds of times higher in the mine water than in the unpolluted surface and groundwaters. However, most immobile toxic pollutants from the mine drainage were quickly removed from the surface water by the precipitation of Al and Fe oxyhydroxides. Geochemical modeling showed that potentially toxic heavy metals might exist largely in the forms of MSO₄ ^2– and M²⁺ in the mine water. These metals in the surface and groundwaters could form M²⁺, CO₃ ^2– and OH^– complex ions. Computer simulation indicates that the saturation indices of albite, alunite, anhydrite, chlorite, fluorite, gypsum, halloysite and strontianite in the water samples are undersaturated and have progressively evolved toward the saturation condition. However, barite, calcite, chalcedony, dolomite, gibbsite, illite and quartz were in equilibrium, and only clay minerals were supersaturated. Ground and mine waters seemed to be in equilibrium with kaolinite field, but some surface water were in equilibrium with gibbsite and seceded from the stability field of quartz. This indicates that surface water samples in reaction with carbonate rocks would first equilibrate with carbonate minerals, then gibbsite to kaolinite. Investigations on water quality and environmental improvement of the severely polluted Sanggok creek, as well as remediation methods on the possible future pollution of the groundwater by the acid mine drainage from the abandoned metal mines, are urgently required. Received: 4 February 2000 · Accepted: 9 May 2000     

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Acid Mine Drainage around the Abandoned Youngdong Coal Mine in Korea

Abstract: To determine the geochemical characteristics of the Imgok creek impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from the abandoned Youngdong coal mine in Korea, chemical analyses of water samples and precipitates and the geochemical modelling of the precipitates were conducted. Acid mine drainage drained from the mine adit and coal refuse piles shows a low pH, high conductivity and high concentrations of Fe, Al, SO₄ and heavy metals such as Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In the Imgok creek, the concentrations of heavy metals and major cations besides Fe are decreased by dilution, but concentrations of Fe are decreased by the formation of precipitates as well as dilution. From the results of geochemical modelling, goethite is oversaturated, and schwertmannite is the most stable solid phase in the Imgok creek. Yellowish red Fe-precipitates collected at the Imgok creek are recognized as amorphous or poorly crystallized minerals from XRD patterns and Fe_ox/Fe_totratios, and as containing chemically bonded SO₄ and OH by an IR analysis. The mole ratios of Fe/S in these precipitates, which are determined by EPMA, are 5. 1 and 6. 1.     

生态环境脆弱区煤炭资源开发诱发的环境地质问题——以陕西省神木县大柳塔煤矿区为例

为揭示大柳塔地区大规模煤炭资源开发诱发的生态环境地质问题及其效应,进行了1：5万矿山地质环境调查。研究表明,大柳塔煤矿区地面塌陷影响面积达47.12～53.36 km2,范围大,但对农业生产的影响较轻。煤矿开发对水资源的破坏尤为严重。20年来大柳塔地区及主要采煤塌陷区土地沙漠化呈现逐年好转的趋势,主要河流受到了硫化物、氟化物、总磷的普遍污染,河流底泥受到了重金属元素较严重的累积污染,土壤尚有较大的环境容量,但重金属元素的累积污染不容忽视。神东公司实施生态功能圈建设、煤矸石堆场复垦、露天矿复垦、矿井水综合利用等措施,明显地改善了矿区的生态环境,探索出生态环境脆弱区在煤炭资源开发过程中保护生态地质环境的新模式。依据该区煤炭资源开发中生态环境保护的成功经验与教训,统筹规划,提出制定生态环境脆弱区煤炭资源开发的环境保护规划、建立矿山公园、加强采煤塌陷区生态环境变化研究等建议。     

Environmental impact of the abandoned coal mines on the surface water and the groundwater quality in the south of Bochum,Germany

Surface water and groundwater samples were collected from 20 locations, situated in the vicinity of the abandoned coal mine fields south of Bochum. The main objective of this research is to assess the environmental impacts of these mines on the surface water and groundwater quality as well as to determine the factors controlling these impacts. The water samples were collected from stream sources, groundwater, surface water and engineered channels during April 2011. Physicochemical parameters were measured during fieldwork. Water samples were analysed for major ions and aluminium, iron, manganese, ferrous iron, zinc and hydrogen sulphide. The hydrochemistry of the surface water and the groundwater of this area is characterized by near-neutral to alkaline conditions, represented by predominance of calcium bicarbonate and sometimes calcium sulphate water types. Hence, the surface water and the groundwater quality in this region is significantly affected by abandoned coal mines. These effects resulted from oxidation of iron disulphide minerals that release iron, sulphate and hydrogen. The presence of carbonate-rich materials, which contained within the landfilling materials, has led the releasing of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. These materials could be the main source responsible for raising the alkalinity of the affected water. The environmental hazard of the abandoned coal mines in this area is related to the high concentration of Fe especially in the groundwater that possess the highest Fe concentration compared to other water sources: the Fe is 18 times larger than the allowed value in drinking water. Significant spatial variations of the water pollution were noted in this study. For this reason, the environmental hazards of the abandoned coal mines in Germany should be considered at closure of coal mines in the near future. Otherwise, these mines will be sources of environmental threats unless all necessary measures are taken to reduce their impact.     

苏州河初期雨水调蓄池控制溢流污染影响研究

利用苏州河沿岸代表性排水系统雨季溢流水量水质监测以及调蓄池处理技术的实验研究成果,与数学模型研究有机结合,建立了苏州河水系水量水质模型和排水系统概化管网水力模型,系统研究了在8种1~12h设计降雨条件下,苏州河沿岸初期雨水调蓄池控制溢流污染的影响变化及其对苏州河水质的影响。     

我国煤矿区矿井水污染问题及防控技术体系构建

煤炭开采必然产生大量的矿井涌水,我国目前的矿井水整体上表现出水质相对较差、水处理成本较高等问题。首先明确了我国典型矿区矿井水水质的主体特征:常规离子是造成矿井水水质差的主要化学组分;矿井水中有毒有害物质占比小,且基本优于地下水Ⅲ类水质量标准。其次,详细探讨了我国矿井水水质形成、演化的几个科学问题,包括不同水文地质结构下物理–化学作用所起的主导作用,时间效应对水质演化的影响,微生物群落结构特征及其与环境因素的相关关系,水动力场–化学场–微生物场–温度场的多场耦合问题等。接着重点介绍矿井水污染防控的技术方法,以减少矿井突(涌)水量和水资源保护为前提,以实现煤–水双资源协调开采、煤炭绿色开采为目标,以矿井水“阻断、减量、保护”为主要防控思路,围绕煤矿区矿井水阻断技术、污染负荷减量技术、污染区修复治理等科学问题展开分析;通过各种现有技术、方法、工艺,最大可能地降低吨煤矿井水处理成本,如采用井下预处理、地面深度处理、超深回灌封贮、生态资源化利用等。最后,提出研发煤矿区地下水及污染物的阻断材料和吸附材料、注浆装备、监测设备、投料设备、原位取样检测设备等,形成我国煤矿区矿井水污染防控技术体系。该技术体系的构建可对煤矿绿色开采、煤矿区深层地下水污染防控、闭坑矿井水污染防控、矿区地下水资源及生态环境保护利用等提供理论及技术支撑。      

Environmental impact and geochemistry of old tailing pile from the Sanggok mine creek, Republic of Korea

This study evaluates the pollution load on a creek based on the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of old tailings. The Sanggok mine is one of the largest lead–zinc producers in the Hwanggangri mining district, Republic of Korea. The vertical profile of the old tailings in the mine area can be divided into three units based on color change, and mineralogical and textural variations, as well as physical and chemical properties. Unit I (surface accumulation and oxidized heterogeneous tailing soil) has lower pH and higher Eh than unit II (originally unoxidized dumped tailing soil) and unit III (pebble-bearing bottom soil). The conductivity data indicates that unit I and II have very high values compared to unit III and basement. The mine area consists mainly of carbonate rocks; however, mineral constituents of tailing soil and sediments near the mine were mainly composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, amphibole, calcite, dolomite, magnesite, and clay minerals. Units I and II are characterized by high abundances of siderite, locally pyrite, and dolomite. Precipitates in the mining drainage mainly included: smectite, illite, berthierine, quartz, siderite, hexahydrite, and Ca-ferrate. Among the separated metallic minerals, tailing soils and sediments of highly concentrated toxic metals are found: some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite, various hydroxide, and uncertain secondary minerals. Units I and II are characterized by relatively high concentrations of Ca, Fe, Mn and low contents of Al, Mg, K, Na, Ti, rare earth elements (REEs) that correlated with the proportion of secondary minerals. Potentially toxic elements such as Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn are highly enriched in the upper two units. This metal concentration can be influenced by changes in the depth because of oxic and suboxic zonal distribution. The removal zone (unit I) has probably migrated below the elevation of the maximum enrichment layer due to deepening of the oxic/suboxic boundary. In most of the materials, the enrichment index is higher than 3.62. The highest value of 42.55 is found in the oxidation surface soils of the tailing pile. An average enrichment index of the profiles and precipitates are 27.62 and 22.62, respectively. Rocky basement soils have an average enrichment index of 6.63, which is influenced by overlying the tailing pile. The water quality and habitat of the Sanggok creek are severely polluted. Polluted surface water may also negatively impact the agricultural soil and groundwater.     

山底河流域煤矿酸性矿井水野外监测

酸性矿井水在我国鲁西南、山西、内蒙、云南和贵州等煤矿区普遍存在,酸性矿井水其pH往往在2~5之间,高SO₄2?、HB、TDS、Fe、Mn。这些物质进入地下水、地表水或土壤后,会对其造成严重危害。文章选择山西阳泉市典型废弃煤矿区山底河流域为研究区,通过水文地质调查,水文地质钻探,水文地质剖面等方法阐述山底流域地层岩性,水文地质条件概况,得出受煤矿开采影响,与天然条件下相比山底河流域的地表水和地下水的补给、径流、排泄条件均发生了根本变化。补给通过破坏产生的导水裂隙带运移,以垂向运动为主;径流通过坑道,导水裂隙带运移,以横向运动为主;排泄以矿坑排水和泉水溢出方式为主。并简述山底河流域煤矿酸性矿井水试验站观测站分布情况与水化学特征。      

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of acid mine drainage in the vicinity of an abandoned mine, Daduk Creek, Korea

Acid mine drainage discharged from the abandoned Daduk mine towards the Daduk creek has a pH of 3.3, and concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Zn and SO₄ of 18, 41, 45, 38 and 1940 mg/L, respectively. In particular, As concentration in acid mine drainage is 1000 μg/L. Removing order of metal ions normalized by SO₄ concentration downstream from discharge point is Fe > As > Al > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cd > Pb. In the Daduk creek, Fe and As are the most rapidly depleted downstream from acid mine drainage because As adsorbs, coprecipitates and forms compounds with ferric oxyhydroxide. From the results of geochemical modeling using the Phreeq C program, goethite (FeOOH) is oversaturated, and schwertmannite (Fe₈O₈(OH)_4.5(SO₄)_1.75) is the most stable solid phase at low pH in the Daduk creek. Yellowish red (orange ochre) precipitates that occurred in the study area are probably composed of goethite or schwertmannite.     

马兰煤矿矿井水水质变化特征及成因

通过对山西省马兰煤矿2号煤层采掘面在开采和封闭时期的矿井水和沉积物的研究,揭示采掘面封闭前后对矿井水水质和沉积物的影响机理。研究结果表明:马兰煤矿矿井水均为SO₄-Ca型水质,矿井水均富含SO₄2-和Fe离子;随着上部煤层的不断开采,3处矿井水呈现相同的变化规律,矿井水的pH值升高,Eh值降低,SO₄2-、Fe、Mn和Zn离子浓度随之下降,其中北一暗斜井处的矿井水水质变化最显著;矿井水水质指标和流速变化能够控制其沉积物的矿物组成和结晶程度,北一暗斜井处的沉积物在两次采样中由斯沃特曼铁矿变为针铁矿,而其他两处的矿井水沉积物矿物组分没有发生变化,主要由针铁矿组成。研究结果能够提高对老空区积水水质的预测精度,并对煤矿突水水源判识具有重要意义。      

废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯抽采可行性评价模型构建及应用

在碳达峰碳中和的政策背景下,开发废弃煤矿瓦斯资源可产生较高的资源、经济与环境三重效益。通过调研及文献查阅,从技术可行性和经济合理性2个角度建立废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯抽采可行性评价指标体系,将博弈论组合赋权方法与模糊综合评价法结合,构建了博弈论?模糊综合评价模型,以晋城矿区废弃矿井古书院矿为例进行瓦斯抽采可行性评价。结果表明:一级指标中瓦斯资源条件及瓦斯保存条件的权重较高,分别为0.439 1和0.383 6,说明煤矿瓦斯赋存量和煤矿密闭性是影响废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯抽采可行性的决定因素;二级指标中,地面钻孔甲烷浓度和矿井涌水量权重较高,分别为0.091、0.087,说明废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯富集区的甲烷纯度及煤矿水害严重程度是影响废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯抽采可行性的关键因素;建立的评价模型修正了单一赋权评价法导致的权重失真问题,兼容了主客观定权重方法的优点;验证了博弈论?模糊综合评价模型应用于废弃煤矿采空区瓦斯抽采可行性评价的合理性。      

鄂东南铁山地区土壤-植物系统中重金属元素分布及富集特征

采用原子荧光光谱法和等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)对鄂东南铁山地区主要河流流经区土壤、植物中重金属元素质量分数及其富集特征的研究表明,研究区西港河流域下游局部地段形成Cu、Zn、Ni、Cd、As重金属元素的土壤污染,东港河流域下游局部地段形成Cd、Cu、As、Pb、Zn重金属元素的土壤污染,植物中已经形成Cd、Zn元素的超量富集.其中土壤中重金属元素的富集主要与冶炼厂废水和尾矿坝渗漏水有关,而植物中重金属元素的富集则受土壤中重金属元素质量分数和植物吸收性能的双重控制.     

Acid mine drainage at a coal mine in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa

 Several mines in the Witbank coalfield in South Africa are affected by acid mine drainage. This has led to a deterioration in the water quality in many surface streams. The Loubert Mine is one such mine. Hence, an initial investigation was carried out to determine the source of acid mine drainage pollution and the associated hydrogeological conditions. The investigation showed that most of the acid mine drainage is emanating from old opencast workings which have been backfilled. Most of the water from the backfilled area drains into control reservoirs. Unfortunately their capacity is limited, which means that water overspills and seeps from them. This water finds its way into a nearby stream, the water of which accordingly has an unacceptably low pH value and high sulphate content. The proposals advanced to control the problem basically involve inhibiting the amount of water infiltrating the backfilled opencast area on the one hand and reducing the amount of water entering the control reservoirs on the other. Received: 5 March 1997 · Accepted: 17 June 1997     

Geochemistry of suspended particles in a mine-affected mountain stream

The particles in a mine drainage and the creek into which it drains were examined using microbeam and filtration methods. The composition of the particles in the drainage and creek were distinctly different, though both carried a chemical signal from the mine. High concentrations of particles made up of Fe and S were seen in the drainage, especially during low flow. The molar Fe:S ratio of these suspended particles was 3.5:1. The influx of the mine drainage into the creek increased the relative number of aggregates and particles with associated Fe. However, few discrete Fe–S particles were seen in the creek, where solid-phase Fe and S were consistently associated with aluminosilicate minerals. Instream precipitation is predicted and appears to be an important additional source of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides to the particles. Some of the Fe and Al associated with particles in the creek was acid-soluble, but most of the acid-soluble Zn, Mn, Cu, Ca, Mg and Si were transported in the <0.45 μm fraction at a site downstream of the mine drainage. One third of the suspended particles had associated P. These suspended particles take part in the complex geochemistry of this system, and represent an important pool as a potential sink and source of metals and other elements.     

The influence of a heavily polluted urban river on the adjacent aquifer systems

 Ankara Creek is often subjected to overflowing of sewage caused by rainfall or direct discharge of raw sewage. Alluvial aquifers adjacent to Ankara Creek and its tributaries have considerable groundwater potential. The present status of groundwater quality is far from drinking water standards. Groundwater contamination in Ankara is suspected to be caused by Ankara Creek which is heavily polluted by raw sewage discharge, surface runoff and other common sources. In order to investigate the influence of heavily polluted Ankara Creek on the groundwater contamination in the adjacent alluvial aquifers, five sampling stations on Ankara Creek and 25 water wells were monitored during 1996. At five different sampling periods, water samples were collected from both surface water and groundwater. Chemical analyses of basic ions, pollution parameters and heavy metals in natural waters were carried out. The organic pollution prevails in Ankara Creek whereas total dissolved solids (TDS) and heavy metal concentrations are considerably low. Starting from the idea that Ankara Creek somewhat influences the groundwater quality and the contaminants in groundwater should attenuate with respect to distance, a series of water wells in a certain area, each having different distance from the creek, were examined using four pollution parameters. It is concluded that Ankara Creek barely influences the aquifer systems in connection. This is attributed to two reasons: rapid attenuation of contaminants due to dilution in groundwater and a blanket of very fine sized materials covering the bottom of Ankara Creek. Received: 28. April 1997 · Accepted: 23. February 1998     

煤矿酸性水水化学特征及其环境地球化学信息研究

以水化学数据为依据,应用相关分析,结合地质、水文勘探资料,对煤矿酸性矿排水 (AMD)的水化学特点及其成因进行了研究。煤矿AMD在一定的物质条件和环境条件下形成,只要条件适宜,不管是高硫煤还是低硫煤均可产生酸性水;低pH、高Eh、高TDS及高硬度是煤矿AMD的重要特征,水中的SO₃2-与其EC之间以及Fe3+/Fe2+比值与其Eh值走势具有良好的一致性,水中微量元素及重金属来源较复杂,如Ni、Cu、Co、Zn等来源于黄铁矿的氧化溶解,但Pb、Sr等主要来自AMD对煤系地层中煤及岩石中矿物的淋滤作用。      

铜陵矿区主要河流水质分析与污染评价

铜陵矿区是长江下游重要的铜铁资源基地,也是典型的含硫多金属矿区,矿山酸性废水是矿业开发活动不可避免的环境问题,对地表水体有很大影响。本文以铜陵矿区主要河流为研究对象,通过野外调查采样和室内测试分析,从常规理化性质、矿山酸性废水和重金属元素三方面分析了的水质现状,采用单因子指数和内梅罗水质指数法进行了污染评价。结果表明:(1)矿区河流污染成分以有机污染和矿山酸性废水污染为主,其次是重金属污染。(2)在检测的46个河段中, 按综合污染指数大小分级,共计有93.48%的河段受到不同程度的污染,其中,水质严重污染的河段占 4.35%,水质重污染的河段占13.04%,水质污染的河段占 65.22%,水质轻污染的河段占10.87%;共计有6.52%的河段水质较好,均为清洁状态。(3)3条河流按污染程度大小依次为新桥河>顺安河>红星河,除顺安河外,其他均受到了矿山酸性废水污染。今后应重点关注矿山酸性废水的污染机理与风险评估,加强矿区水环境保护与恢复治理工作。     

A mass balance approach to estimate the dilution and removal of the pollutants in stream water polluted by acid mine drainage

 A few simple mass balance equations were developed to simultaneously estimate how much the pollutants from acid mine drainage (AMD) in stream water are diluted and removed during their migration. The application of the equations requires knowledge of the variations in the concentrations of the dissolved pollutants and the stoichiometry of the precipitation reaction of the pollutants when none of the pollutant shows a conservative behavior along the stream path. The calculation should be restricted to the pollutants showing much higher concentrations in the polluted main stream water than in the combining or diluting water of the same target area. The mass balance equations were applied to estimate the dilution factor and precipitation fractions of pollutants in Imgok Creek such as Fe, SO₄ and Al from the AMD of Yeongdong mine. The results show that the estimation, especially for SO₄ and Al, significantly depends on the kinds of the precipitates. When FeOHSO₄ and AlOHSO₄ are assumed to precipitate, the maximum removal fractions of SO₄ and Al by precipitation are respectively 34% and 46% of the original input, which is much higher than the values estimated when SO₄ is considered to be perfectly conservative. It indicates that the stoichiometry of precipitation reaction is very important in the interpretation of the pollutant dilution and migration and assessment of environmental impacts of AMD. The applicability of the mass balance equations may still need to be verified. However, examining the calculated dilution factor and precipitation fractions with the equations can provide invaluable information on not only the behavior but also unexpected input of the pollutants in the stream water polluted by AMD and other point sources. Received: 12 November 1997 · Accepted: 30 March 1998     

废弃矿井充水问题及其研究和治理方法——以美国匹兹堡煤田为例

以美国匹兹堡煤田为例,介绍了废弃矿井地下水回充、相邻矿井水连通和自流排泄出地表,以致造成河水污染,生产矿井涌水量增加,甚至导致生产矿井水害事故等问题。强调应基于GIS和GPS等技术对这类矿区进行水文地质填图,设立长期水位水质观测站,并有针对性的设置矿井水处理厂。针对我国废弃矿井充水问题提出了建议。