The Cause and Effects of Acid Mine Drainage - 1699 Words

The Cause and Effects of Acid Mine Drainage INTRODUCTION Imagine going fishing on a cool Autumn day, the trees are all different shades of orange, brown and red and the birds are singing their beautiful songs, but their is a serious problem because when you arrive at the river all plant and animal life are gone. This is by no means a recent phenomenon. This is due to the effects of acid rock drainage (ARD). This is a problem that has been occurring since ancient times, but it was not until the 1800s when fast growing industrialization and heavy mining that it caught a lot of attention. Acid rock drainage is the term used to describe leachate, seepage, or drainage that has been affected by the natural oxidation of sulfur minerals†¦show more content†¦These differences are due to the sources of acid in different ecosystems. A buffer, as we learned in class, is a compound that tends to maintain the pH of a solution over a narrow range as small amounts of acid or base are added.(Rhankin 1996) This is also a substance that can a lso be either an acid or a base. A low pH has a lot of bad effects on the bicarbonate buffering system.(Kelly 1988) At low pH solutions carbonate and bicarbonate are changed over to carbonic acid and then on to water and carbon dioxide. Because of this water looses its ability to buffer the pH of the water and plants in and around the water that use the bicarbonate in the process of photosynthesis. Another effect of low pH is the increase in the rate of the decomposition of clay minerals and carbonates, releasing toxic metals such as aluminum and silica. Ironically however, Aluminum silicates can aid in the buffering of pH. HEAVY METALS The presence of high concentrations of heavy metals from acid mine drainage is just as much a threat to the environment as acidity is. When sulfide is oxidized, heavy metal ions are released into the water. The key concept in this case is the specialization of the metal distinguishes between ‘ filterable and ‘particulate fraction of a metal.(Kelly 1988) Filterable means that particles can be trapped by a filter. The particulate fraction of the metal includes solid minerals, crystals, and metals that set up intoShow MoreRelated The Cause And Effects Of Acid Mine Drainage Essay1712 Words   |  7 Pages The Cause and Effects of Acid Mine Drainage INTRODUCTION nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Imagine going fishing on a cool Autumn day, the trees are all different shades of orange, brown and red and the birds are singing their beautiful songs, but their is a serious problem because when you arrive at the river all plant and animal life are gone. This is by no means a recent phenomenon. This is due to the effects of acid rock drainage (ARD). This is a problem that has been occurring since ancientRead MoreEffects Of Mining On The Environment1133 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Mining Yu Bo Introduction The effects of mining to the environment include formation of sinkholes, erosion and sedimentation, groundwater, loss of biodiversity or habitat modification, soil contamination, surface water by mining chemicals, acid mine drainage creation, fugitive dust emissions, release of cyanide and other chemicals (International Atomic Energy Agency 2005). At times, additional forest cataloguing takes place in the surrounding area of mines so as to enlarge the room availableRead MoreMining and The Environment Essay examples1311 Words   |  6 Pageshave occurred. History and Case Studies of Mining and the Effects on the Environment Mines pose a threat to the environment. They can degrade soil and water quality if left untreated. 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