Amd work presents tcta with a leadership role in the emerging largescale desalination industry, which is very important considering the limited potential for further surface water development in south africa. The south african weather service saws, has not yet issued any warnings for south africa. Acid mine drainage occurs when water reacts with pyrites or fools gold in mining cavities beneath the earths surface. Amd comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. When pyrite is exposed to air and water, it oxidises to form sulphuric acid and iron oxides and hydroxides yellow boy, which causes the ph of th. Enter latitude and longitude coordinates to find its location in the map. The potential utilisation of indigenous south african. Mine water management in the witwatersrand gold fields with special emphasis on acid mine drainage, team of experts report to the interministerial committee imc on acid mine drainage.
Such acid mine water is characterised by its orange brown colour. Innovative treatment technologies problems andor high priority noncoal sites. Preliminary investigation of trace elements in acid mine drainage. On the western basis, sibanye gold continues to operate and maintain the treatment plant. The equator and prime meridian are both invisible lines that circle the earth and help us in na. You can see from equation 1 that in order for these reactions to happen, the pyrite must be exposed to both air and mining is one of south africa s most important industries, but it comes with a cost. The water problem, the mine effluent problem is not a water problem its a salt problem. Pdf acid mine drainage amd is an industrial pollution of prime concern for the. Sep 05, 2017 rivers and lakes in arizona, patagonia, guangdong china, ontario, papua new guinea, and at rio tinto in spain, to name just a few, have all been polluted by acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage dumped in west virginia waters paul thomas of morgantown, w. Governance and sociopolitical issues in management of.
Acid mine drainage interventions department of water and sanitation briefing ms margaret ann diedricks, director general, department of water and sanitation, commented that the president had established an inter ministerial committee imc in 2010 to deal with the matter of acid mine drainage amd, given the fact that the problems that this. Management and mitigation of acid mine drainage in south. South africa possesses large natural reserves of various metals and coal, and therefore hosts substantial mining activity mccarthy, 2011. There are nineteen coalfields in south africa, with the current mining activities largely tak. Mine drainage can be highquality similar to natural waters or contaminated by leftover materials. Iron pyrite, fes2, also known as fools gold, is the most important source of nearly all water pollution originating from mines and their residue deposits. School of geosciences, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, south africa. Acid mine drainage treatment using constructed wetland. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history. Acid mine drainage poses severe environmental pollution problems due to its high acidity, toxic metals and sulphate contents. Although discard dumps have been identified as a source of acid mine drainage, not all dumps produce acid water. It is dangerous because if left unpumped it rises to the surface.
Things to do with kids best beaches best surfing best dive destinations best golf resorts kruger n. The mining sector has historically been one of south africa s main drivers of economic growth, and the countrys wealth has been built on an abundance of mineral resources. Acid mine drainage solution targeted at south african. South africa is facing the increasing challenge of acid mine drainage amd whose genesis is the country s mining history, which paid limited attention to postmining mine site management. Tropical cyclone eloise 2021 environment news south africa. This springerbrief focuses on acid mine drainage amd in the three basins in the witwatersrand, south africa. Dec 21, 2019 acid mine drainage from the dump left by the drd mine is threatening south africa s water system and the wellbeing of residents in riverlea, in the western part of johannesburg.
The lines of longitude and latitude make it possible to map and identify locations anywhe. Lung cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide because of inadequate tobacco control policies. Acid mine drainage is one of the serious issues caused by mining activities and often reported in the last few decades in south africa 11 12. Many of the abandoned mines in south africa generate contaminated mine drainage, and over the years this has led to a deterioration in the water quality in many surface streams and ground water, as. On a follow up insert on carte blanche on sunday the 6th of march 2011, some possible solutions were shown to viewers of how to clean up the acid mine drainage problem plagueing south africa. Caroline lomalungelo lungile dlamini at university of south africa. This springerbrief focuses on acid mine drainage amd in the three basins in the. Mccarthy published the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
Geochemical classification of global mine water drainage mdpi. Acid mine drainage is a significant water pollution problem in many mining regions, but some solutions exist. Case study acid mine drainage south africa earthwise. During the bulk sampling i test mining phase, acid generating characteristics of the deposit may be confirmed. Acid mine drainage also sometimes referred to as acid rock drainage is a wellunderstood process 2. Enter an address or place name and get its gps coordinates in several formats. Assessment of impacts of acid mine drainage on surface.
This has already occurred in the western basin, and is due to occur in the central and eastern basins in the months to come. Innovative treatment technologies notice this document was prepared by a national network of environmental management studies grantee under a fellowship from the u. Results showed that pollutant concentrations generally increased. Assessment of impacts of acid mine drainage on surface water. Feb 25, 2011 acid mine drainage amd occurs when old mine shafts and tunnels fill up, leading to underground water oxidising with the sulphide mineral iron pyrite, otherwise known as fools gold. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations response to amd is assessed, as well the socioeconomic and developmental effects of amd. Innowater innovation experts have been travelling the world meeting with large scale water users learning about the specific challenges they face with regard. May 19, 2016 longterm solution for acid mine drainage thursday, may 19, 2016 germiston water and sanitation minister nomvula mokonyane has launched the longawaited acid mine drainage amd longterm solution that promises to improve the water supply to the nations economic hub. These coalfields are located between latitude 25o30. Planning, acid mine drainage, groundwater vulnerability, geographic information system.
The shortterm solution was neutralisation and metal removal, while the longterm solution was desalination and reuse. Oct 24, 2018 acid mine drainage amd presentation mr singh said that amd, associated with the coal and gold mines, was the key risk to water security in the vaal river system vrs. Pdf effect of acid mine drainage on creeks or streams in a. Acid mine drainage, passive treatment, anaerobic and aerobic units. The largest such line is equidistant from both the north and south poles and is defined as the equator at 0 latitude. Tropical disturbance invest 99s that spawned eloise was first noted on 14 january as it entered a region marginally favourable to development. Associated precipitates include melanterite a turquoisecoloured iron sulphate and yellow boy a yellow ferric hydroxide.
These are 20 of the best things to do in south africa, including swimming with sharks, teeing off at top golf courses, and more with a map. Governance and sociopolitical issues in management of acid. The south african government and nongovernmental organizations. To revisit this article, visit my profile, then view saved stories. This case was highlighted over the past 20 years, and this is one of the features of serious conditions of amd in south africa. Acid mine drainage amd is currently the main pollutant of surface water in the midatlantic region. Severe tropical storm eloise is a current tropical cyclone weakening from land interaction with madagscar at present. The basin is located between 8 and 20 south latitude and between. Po box 3, wits 2050, johannesburg, south africa how to cite this article. Amd is a legacy left behind by abandoned, derelict and defunct mines, and is a continuing byproduct of existing mining. It arises during active mining characterized by water with low ph, high salinity and dissolved. Journal for transdisciplinary research in southern africa 5 1 july.
This amd problem, currently experienced by the government and society in south africa, is, to a large extent, the result of the governance, the administration and the socio. Environmental effects of acid mine drainage amd from an abandoned coal mine in. Oct 20, 2009 finally, the seriousness of the acid mine drainage problem in south africa has been acknowledged at ministerial level and an action plan has been outlined. Treatment of acid mine drainage harvard university. The concept of mapping the earth using two sets of parallel lines, one running from north to south and the other from east to west, was first utilized by t the concept of mapping the earth using two sets of parallel lines, one running from. A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygenfree processes prevail. Acid mine drainage amd is arguably one of the most serious environmental concerns in south africa. Left unchecked, it can result in such longterm water quality impacts that it could well be this industrys most harmful legacy. Just as you have a street address that identifies where you live, every place on earth also has a global address identified by a special grid network. Due to limited resources, especially in the case of hard rock mines, innovative technologies can. Law and governance perspectives l feris lj kotze acid drainage is one of the most serious and potentially enduring environmental problems for the mining industry.
Acid mine drainage is not a new issue, merely one that has been conveniently silenced by the mining houses and south african government for decades. The gold mining industry in south africa principally the witwatersrand goldfield is in decline, but the postclosure decant of amd is an enormous threat, and this could become worse if remedial activities are delayed or not implemented. As a consequence of the types of ores in south africa, which are often sulphidebased, mining operations, currently operational and abandoned, have led to the formation of acid mine drainage amd. South africa is facing this issue derived from abandoned mines after the largescale mine closure since 1970s, especially from underground mines in recent years 4 8 9. For precise, timely, verified and accurate information on this storm system follow south african weather blogs by afriwx post on eloise which is updated several times a day and includes a very thorough timeline. Amd was associated with gold and cold mining when water reacts with ore body and becomes polluted. These effluents require neutralisation and metal removal prior to release to public watercourses. Where do 0 degrees latitude and longitude intersect. Environmental effects of acid mine drainage cape town. A new solution to treat acid mine drainage amd, targeting the south african mining industry, was launched on july 5, in johannesburg, as a viable and cost effective solution to remove metals and.
The new administration of south africa has known about it since they came into power and the ex apartheid government knew about this for decades too but amd is an issue for which there is no quick. South africa has a long history of mining and limited natural water resources, leading to situation where it. The potential utilisation of indigenous south african grasses. Liefferink m and elize s van eeden 2010 proactive environmental activism to promote the remediation of mined land and acid mine drainage. Lines of latitude are defined a right angles to lines of longitude.
Acid mine drainage in south africa development actors, policy. Acid mine drainage threatens sas water systems sabc. Acid mine drainage can change the color of a stream into red or orange. Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote. Acid mine drainage threatens sas water systems sabc news. However, as acid generation develops over an extended time span, there are a number of instances where acid generation. South africa has nineteen coal provinces, of which the current mining activities are largely focused on coalfields in mpumalanga province of south africa 2. Frederic beaudry is an associate professor of environmental science at alfred university in new york. Acid mine drainage amd forms when sulfide m inerals are exposed to oxidizing conditions in coal and metal mining, highway construction, and other largescale excavations. Its generation, release, mobility, and attenuation involves complex processes governed by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors. Acid mine drainage amd is formed when sulfide minerals pyrite and marcasite ema. Four of the most significant imaginary lines running across the surface of earth are the equator.
Impact of acid mine drainage in south africa youtube. The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa mccarthy. Sep 07, 2010 this is acid mine drainage amd, also termed yellowboy, which seeps to the surface on the west rand. The impact of acid mine drainage in south africa author. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Acid mine drainage samples were collected from mpumalanga south africa and they were characterized for heavy metals and sulphate concentrations with ph ranging between 2.
Acid mine drainage is a natural consequence of mining activity where the excavation of mineral deposits metal bearing or coal, below the natural groundwater level, exposes sulphur containing compounds to oxygen. Discover the answer to this common geography trivia question. Acid mine drainage, trace elements, coal, mine, sulphide minerals. The pyrite undergoes oxidation in a twostage process, the first producing sulphuric acid and ferrous sulphate and. Three constructed wetlands all packed similarly were built and employed to. Acid mine drainage is waste water that collects in abandoned gold and uranium mines on the witwatersrand which chemically interacts with acidic and radioactive chemicals. Pdf the impact of acid mine drainage in south africa. A number of issues define and challenge the south african natural resource base. Sep 01, 2014 acid mine drainage amd or acid rock drainage ard is considered as one of the main pollutants of water in many countries that have historic or current mining activities. South africa is rich in minerals, and it supplies a large amount of the worlds production of these minerals thanks to an active mining industry. Eloise is likely to intensify once it reenters the mozambique channel. Solutions to cleaning up the amd mine water problem in. The latitude and longitude finder has options to convert gps location to address and vice versa.
If youre browsing apple maps on an iphone, ipad, or mac and youd like to figure out the latitude and longitude of a particular location, its as easy as dropping a pin. Field and laboratory studies were carried out within the mining community on latitude s 2 35 w and longitude n 5 31w to investigate the levels of heavy metals. Acid mine drainage mines built as early as the 1800s were developed in a manner which utilized gravity drainage, to avoid excessive water accumulation in the mines as a result, water polluted by acid, iron, sulfur and aluminum drained away from the mines and into streams results of acid mine drainage. Pdf a study of environmental assessment of acid mine drainage. Treatment of acid mine drainage using magnesium hydroxide. Environmentek, south africa, and the mineral resources centre of the university. The regulation of acid mine drainage in south africa. In mineral resourcerich africa, this has emerged as one of the most daunting challenges of our time. Gps coordinates finder is a tool used to find the latitude and longitude of your current location including your address, zip code, state, city and latlong. The key factor of acid mine drainage amd in the history of. Mar 16, 2016 this research aimed to contribute to current literature for tweelopiespruit microcatchment, limpopo basin, by trending so42.
Environmentek, south africa, and the mineral resources centre of the university of. Areas where the earth has been disturbed may create acid rock drainage. The area receives an average longterm rainfall of between 600 and 1 100 mm saws 2016. This concern has developed because of the lag time at existing mines between waste emplacement and observation of an acid drainage problem univ. Mine drainage refers to any surface water or groundwater that drains from an active or abandoned mining operation. Selected water chemistry data for acid mine drainage from coal.
Acid mine drainage, acid and metalliferous drainage, or acid rock drainage is the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. It provides a background to amd and its impactsfrom a social science perspective. Acid mine drainage solution targeted at south african mining. The animals have competition from the countrys rampant culture, food, design, fashion and arts scenes. Mccarthy t s 2010 the decanting of acid mine water in the gauteng cityregio2n. The acid water is believed to be currently about 600m below surface of johannesburg and surrounding areas, but is rising at an estimated rate of between 0.
Acid mine drainage university of the witwatersrand. Residents left in dark over acid mine drainage treatment. Acid rock drainage occurs naturally within some environments as part of the rock weathering process but is exacerbated by largescale earth disturbances characteristic of mining and other large construction activities, usually within rocks containing an abundance of sulfide minerals. Jan van riebeeck from the dutch east india company visited the south africa continent and set the region as cape of good hope in.
Four of the most significant lines running across earth are the equator, the tropic of cancer, the tropic of capricorn, and the prime meridian. The department of water and sanitation dws briefed the committee on acid mine drainage amd and its implications to ground water, rivers and dams. Acid mine drainage, acid and metalliferous drainage amd, or acid rock drainage ard is the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines acid rock drainage occurs naturally within some environments as part of the rock weathering process but is exacerbated by largescale earth disturbances characteristic of mining and other large construction activities, usually within rocks. Longitude 31 east passes directly through durban and also harare in zimbabwe and cairo in egypt. The equator and prime meridian have to meet somewhere, but where on earth is that. Jan van riebeeck from the dutch east india company visited the south africa continent and set the region as cape of good hope in 1652, leading to the netherlands cape colony 56. Acid mine drainage prediction acid mine drainage prediction tests are increasingly relied upon to assess the longterm potential of acid generation.
Mapping surface sources of acid mine drainage using remote sensing. This country has some of the biggest reserves of gold, manganese, coal, platinum, diamonds, va. Johannesburg, the largest economy of any metropolitan region in subsaharan africa. Amd is caused when water flows over or through sulfurbearing materials forming solutions of net acidity.
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