Geochemical Classification of Global Mine Water Drainage

Sandisiwe Khanyisa Thisani, Daramy Vondi Von Kallon and Patrick Byrne
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Sandisiwe Khanyisa Thisani: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2092, South Africa
Daramy Vondi Von Kallon: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2092, South Africa
Patrick Byrne: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moore’s University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: This paper evaluates the geochemical distribution and classification of global Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) sources. The geochemical compositions of AMD from 72 mine water sites in 18 countries across 6 continents were referenced from literature. The secondary data were analysed for statistical distribution and mine water classification against the Hill (1968) framework. The research found that the global mine water displayed geochemical concentrations within 2%, 11%, 5%, 9% and 8% of the aluminium, sulphate, acidity, total iron and zinc distribution ranges, respectively, at the 75th percentile. The study also found that 46%, 11.1% and 2.7% of mine water sites met the criteria for Class I, Class II and Class III of the Hill (1968) framework, respectively, while the remaining 40% of sites were omitted by the framework’s geochemical specifications. The results were used to optimise the Hill (1968) framework. The revised framework was proposed for effective AMD geochemical classification, regulation and remediation.

Keywords: Acid Mine Drainage (AMD); geochemical classification; mine water geochemistry; mine water characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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