Assessing the acidic potential of waste rock in the Akara gold mine,Thailand |
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| Authors: | C Changul Chakkaphan Sutthirat G Padmanahban C Tongcumpou |
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| Institution: | (1) National Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (NCE-EHWM), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand;(2) Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand;(3) Environmental Research Institute, Institute Building 2, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand;(4) Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA; |
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| Abstract: | Acid mine drainage (AMD) is the environmental issue that generates the greatest public concern regarding the mining industry.
Thus, characterization of mine waste rock according to acid generation potential is necessary for mining operations to ensure
proper waste rock storage and to avoid future adverse environmental effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate
the potential of AMD generation in the largest operating gold mine in Thailand by using acid base accounting and net acid
generation tests. Representative samples of six types of waste rock classified by mining geologists for mineral processing
and waste dumping were collected for this study: volcanic clastic, porphyritic andesite, andesite, silicified tuff, silicified
lapilli tuff, and sheared tuff. Under various conditions, experimental results indicate that only silicified lapilli tuff
and shear tuff are potentially acid-forming materials. The results indicate that AMD generation may possibly occur a long
time after mine closure due to the lag time of the dissolution of acid-neutralizing sources. Acidic generation from some waste
rocks may occur in the future based on environmental conditions, particularly the oxidation of sulphide minerals by the combination
of oxygen and water. Therefore, a proper design for waste rock dumping and storage is necessary to reduce the risk of AMD
generation in future. It is advisable to install a surface management system to control the overland flow direction away from
the waste dump area and tailing storage facility and to install a second water storage pond next to the main storage pond
to store the spilled water during storms and the rainy season. A water quality monitoring plan that focuses on disturbed areas
such as water storage ponds and mine pits should be put in place. |
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