Predicting the occurrence of acid mine drainage in the Alleghenian coal-bearing strata of western Pennsylvania; An assessement by simulated weathering (leaching) experiments and overburden characterization

Morrison, Joel L.; Scheetz, Barry E.; Strickler, D. W.; Williams, Eugene G.; Rose, Arthur W.; Davis, A. W.; Parizek, Richard R.

doi:10.1130/spe248-p87

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Morrison et al (1990), in laboratory weathering experiments of strata concentration, was compared against all no consistent or clear trends were…”

Section: Maximum Potential Aciditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict the Quality of Drainage at Surface Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, U.S.A

Brady¹,

Perry²,

Beam³

et al. 1994

ASMR

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Abstract:The effectiveness of Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) for predicting surface coal mine drainage quality in Pennsylvania was evaluated. Comparisons between ABA and mine drainage alkalinity, acidity, and sulfate were made for 38 mines in the bituminous coalfield. Neutralization Potential (NP), Maximum Potential Acidity (MPA), and Net Neutralization Potential (NNP) were evaluated with and without "thresholds."Calculations using "thresholds" counted only those values for NP greater than 30 mt CaC03/l,OOO mt and percent sulfur greater than o. 5%. "Without thresholds" computations included all values. Stoichiometric equivalence factors of 31.25 and 62.5 were used to compute MPA. NP and NNP are the best predictors of postmining drainage quality. Alkaline or acid drainage quality is controlled by as little as 1% to 3% carbonate in the overburden. NNP less than 1% generally results in acidic drainage, and NNP greater than 3% yields alkaline drainage. An empirical relation exists between alkalinity and NP. Postmining alkalinity can be estimated as 4 to 6 times NP (without thresholds) .MPA is not a reliable predictor of drainage quality, except in the absence of calcareous strata, where a positive relation exists between acidity and MPA.

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“…Morrison et al (1990), in laboratory weathering experiments of strata concentration, was compared against all no consistent or clear trends were…”

Section: Maximum Potential Aciditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict the Quality of Drainage at Surface Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, U.S.A

Brady¹,

Perry²,

Beam³

et al. 1994

ASMR

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“…The dominance of siderite over pyrite in the upper Carboniferous coal-bearing deposits of the central Appalachian basin is well established and attributed to ever-wet tropical paleoclimatic conditions (Cecil et al, 1985). The manganese contents of siderite in the Appalachian region are not well known, but manganese is present in siderite from western Pennsylvania coal-bearing deposits (Morrison et al, 1990b;Brady et al, 1998). Considering that the mass of extractable manganese in siderite greatly exceeds that in the clay minerals, the weathering of siderite may be an important source of manganese in mining-impacted surface waters throughout the Appalachian region.…”

Section: Proposed Model For Formation Of Manganese-rich Mine Runoffmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Impure siderite, such as that present at the Cumberland mine, has some neutralizing capability because of extensive calcium, magnesium, and manganese substitution for iron. Simulated weathering studies indicate that siderite-bearing materials significantly reduce acidity, dissolved sulfate, and total iron in leachate solutions (Morrison et al, 1990b). Assuming that the chemical compositions of siderite from samples CM-1-27 and CM-1-30 are representative, for every hydrogen ion (source of acidity) consumed by dissolving siderite, 0.01 ions of manganese, 0.04 ions of calcium, and 0.08 ions of magnesium will be released into the water.…”

Section: Proposed Model For Formation Of Manganese-rich Mine Runoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Origin of high manganese concentrations in coal mine drainage, eastern Tennessee

Larsen

Mann²

2005

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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“…It has been noted (Morrison et al 1990;Younger 1994) that problems of acid mine drainage are mainly associated with coals deposited in marine or brackish-water strata rather than with coals deposited in terrestrial fluvial environments. The association of pyrite with marine conditions, and particularly the control of SO4 availability has been noted earlier in this paper.…”

Section: Chemical Weathering: Acid Mine Drainagementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impact of minerals in UK coals

Spears¹

1997

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Both detrital and diagenetic minerals are quantitatively important in UK coals. The detrital minerals include quartz, and the clay minerals illite, mixed-layer illite-smectite, kaolinite and chlorite. The diagenetic minerals are dominated by pyrite/marcasite, carbonates, mainly ankerite and calcite, and kaolinite. Pyrite makes an important contribution to the S contents of the coals and is largely responsible for the variation in total S. The S content of coals delivered to power stations could be reduced by selective extraction during mining and improved physical coal-cleaning. Pyrite is a major location for trace elements of environmental concern and the elimination of pyrite would reduce both SO2 and trace element emissions. Pyrite is also important in the weathering environment due to its instability. Its breakdown in coal stocks and colliery discard heaps may lead to spontaneous combustion. In discard heaps, pyrite breakdown is also responsible for acid porewaters and toxic elements in solution which inhibit colonization by vegetation and thus hinder reclamation of derelict land. If carbonates are sufficiently abundant, acid conditions may be eliminated. Acid porewaters are one facet of the general problem of acid mine drainage, which has a major impact on water quality, particularly in streams and rivers. In the UK acid mine drainage is a problem of growing concern due to reduction of deep-mine pumping following closure of collieries. Although pyrite breakdown in colliery spoil has an important influence on porewater compositions, it does not greatly influence the engineering stability because the major component, the mudrocks, contain very little pyrite. Upon exposure, the mudrocks break down relatively rapidly due to sedimentary structures to form an aggregate. Loss of interparticle bonding is a much slower process but there are a few mudrocks associated with low rank bituminous coals with both a high mixed-layer clay content and porosity which disintegrate rapidly during cycles of wetting and drying. There are also regional variations in the relative proportions of the clay minerals which influence the engineering properties. Kaolinite is dominant in the northern coalfields. This is also detected in the composition of fly ash produced by coal-fired power stations. Fly ash is enriched in those trace elements which have an environmental impact. The volatile elements, many of which were sulphide-associated in the coal, are enriched on the surface of the ash particles where they are accessible to leaching in the weathering environment, resulting in the contamination of natural waters.

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Predicting the occurrence of acid mine drainage in the Alleghenian coal-bearing strata of western Pennsylvania; An assessement by simulated weathering (leaching) experiments and overburden characterization

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Evaluation of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict the Quality of Drainage at Surface Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, U.S.A

Evaluation of Acid-Base Accounting to Predict the Quality of Drainage at Surface Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, U.S.A

Origin of high manganese concentrations in coal mine drainage, eastern Tennessee

Environmental impact of minerals in UK coals

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