Acid mine drainage at a coal mine in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa |
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Authors: | S Geldenhuis F G Bell |
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Institution: | (1) Steffan, Robertson and Kirsten Inc., Johannesburg, South Africa, ZA;(2) Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa, ZA |
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Abstract: | 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 |
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Keywords: | Acid mine drainage Backfilled opencast workings Hydrogeological analysis Pollution control |
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