Hydrochemistry of Surface and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Mine Waste Rock Dump: Assessing Impact of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD)

Abstract

Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is a well-known problem related to the mining industry due to its hazardous environmental effects. Metal-rich drainage and acid effluent transmitted from mine waste dumps compromise environmental quality of groundwater and surface water systems destroying aquatic life and increasing human health risks. This study was aimed at assessing the acid and metal drainage potential from the Subriso East Rock Dump (SERD) located in the Wassa East district of Ghana on ground and surface water quality in the catchment using a system of monitoring boreholes, reference boreholes and river samples. Water samples were collected from deep and shallow monitoring boreholes and surface water within the immediate environs of the SERD

Evaluation of surface water contamination and its impacts on health in the mining districts of Kambélé and Bétaré-Oya (Eastern-Cameroon)

“…2 a and b). This outcome aligns with the findings of Krampah et al [ 43 ], who obtained low conductivity values in a study on the hydrochemistry of ground and surface water in Benin. It is also consistent with the results reported by Akil et al [ 44 ] for Oued Guigou surface water in Morocco.…”

“…The variation in EC of surface water in East Cameroon is intricately linked to the geological formations they drain and the climatic fluctuations in the study area [ 17 ]. This finding mirrors the results of Krampah et al [ 43 ], who reported low conductivity values in a hydrochemistry study of ground and surface waters in Benin. It is also in agreement with the outcomes presented by Akil et al [ 44 ] for Oued Guigou surface water in Morocco.…”

Needs and Options for Improving Gold Mining Waste Management Practices for Sustainable Development in Tanzania

“…The results of this study, especially as they relate to groundwater quality around the PAF WRD, showed the possibility of seepage into water sources (Table 2). The findings from this study are in line with [21], who suggested that metal-rich drainage from mine WRDs can compromise the environmental quality of groundwater and surface water, and this situation can destroy aquatic life and increase human health risks. Oxidation of sulphide minerals in waste rocks leads to poor-quality leaching, which is typically characterized by a low pH and high heavy metal and sulphate concentrations [22].…”

Physicochemical Properties and Health Risks of Informal E-Waste Processing at Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria

“…The concentration of Cr in the groundwater around the Vihar industrial area in East Delhi, India when analyzed was higher than the concentrations of Cr in the present study and was at 0.29 mg/L (Panwar & Ahmed, 2018). The Ag concentrations in this study were higher than those recorded in groundwater around the Subriso East Rock Waste dump area located in the Hwini-Butre and Benso in Ghana, where the concentrations of Ag recorded were below the detection limits of the AAS machine used for analysis (Krampah et al, 2019).…”