ASSESSING THE ACID MINE DRAINAGE POTENTIAL OF A STOCKPILED GOLD BEARING SULPHIDE ORE

Bennetta Koomson (), Shadrack Fosu, Blestmond Afrifa Brako, Elias Kwasi Asiam and Ernest K. Yanfu
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Bennetta Koomson: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Materials Engineering
Shadrack Fosu: University of Mines and Technology, Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering
Blestmond Afrifa Brako: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Materials Engineering
Elias Kwasi Asiam: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Materials Engineering
Ernest K. Yanfu: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada

Earth Sciences Malaysia (ESMY), 2021, vol. 5, issue 1, 58-64

Abstract: This work seeks to assess the acid mine drainage (AMD) potential of stockpiled sulphidic gold bearing ore that was left untreated for a period of four (4) years. The mineralogical composition of the stockpiled sulphidic gold ore was determined using X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Reflected Light Microscope. The AMD potential and kinetic studies on the ore sample were determined using Acid Base Accounting (ABA) and Humidity Cell (ASTMD 5744). The XRD and microscope analyses showed that the gold ore contain arsenopyrite and pyrite as the major sulphide minerals. The ABA confirmed that the gold sulphide ore could be a potential source of AMD with respect to AMD marginal of safety if the ore is left untreated for a very long period. Humidity Cell kinetic analysis showed a possibility of mobilizing Arsenic (As) into the geoenvironment when there is a long period of oxidation of abandoned sulphide run-of-mine (ROM) ore.

Keywords: Acid Base Accounting; Arsenic; Sulphate Concentration; Heavy Metals Concentration; Conductivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zib:zbesmy:v:5:y:2021:i:1:p:58-64

DOI: 10.26480/esmy.01.2021.58.64

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