Industrial Mine Use: Mine Waste

Abstract

The extraction of minerals and the mining and processing of ores produces a variety of effluents, which, if left untreated and discharged into the environment, can impact the natural and social environment. Various types of mine effluent and the conditions giving rise to their generation are described, with some focus on acid mine drainage (AMD) in particular, both in terms of the chemistry of generation and common methods of AMD remediation. Both active treatment (for example, high density sludge process) and passive remediation (for example, wetlands) treatment of mine effluents are explored and the common processes of remediation are discussed in detail.