Acid Mine Drainage

Visual Environmental Education Guide

The Problem

Basic definition: -The overflow of acidic water from abandoned coal mines (Websters Dictionary) Image from: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/42656972.jpg

Examples of Acid Mine Drainage

Image from: http://www.aeepartnership.org/acid_mine_drainage.php

Image from: http://chemcollective.org/AMD/Amd.html

Overview of Chemical Reactions Occurring   Main chemical reaction: the oxidization of pyrite (FeS 2 ) The 3 main chemical products formed in acid mine drainage reactions are:  Ferrous iron and sulfuric acid  Ferric iron  Eventually turns into iron hydroxide

First Chemical Reaction: Oxidization of Pyrite

+2 FeS 2 + O 2 + H 2 O –> Fe + H 2 SO 4

or (pyrite + dissolved oxygen + water) -> (ferrous iron + sulfuric acid)

Second Chemical Reaction: Oxidization of Soluble Iron

+2 + +3 Fe + O 2 + H –> Fe + H 2 O

or (ferrous iron + oxygen +hydronium) -> (ferric iron + water)

Third Chemical Reaction: Precipitation of Insoluble Iron

+3 + Fe + H 2 O –> Fe(OH) 3 + H

or (ferric iron + water) -> (iron hydroxide + hydronium ) Image from: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kirby/AMD.html

The Importance of the pH of Water

  Water’s average pH is 7, which is basic Acid mine drainage can make water’s pH as low as 2.5 Image from: http://pa.water.usgs.gov/projects/energy/amd/images/fig3b.gif

Possible Forms of Treatment

1) 2)   Passive Treatment Artificial Wetland Construction Active Treatment Chemical additives  Limestone or carbonate neutralization Image from: http://ots.blogs.bucknell.edu/files/2010/09/IMG_33691.jpg

Mining Practices in the Susquehanna Valley Region Image from: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres /bmr/annualreport/2010/Photo_Coming_out_of_the_ mine.jpg

Image from: http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/00478.jpg

Map of Rivers/Streams Affected by Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania Image from: http://pa.water.usgs.gov/projects/energy/amd/images/amdmap.gif

Regional Treatment Programs

Image from: http://www.wpcamr.org/ Image from: http://epcamr.org/home/

The Shamokin Creek Story

Image from: http://farm4.staticflickr.com3591/3502701636_db54cf068f_z.jpg

The Shamokin Creek Watershed Map Image from: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kirby/WshedMap.html

Example of a Local Resource: Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance Image from: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kirby/ 0SCRAnewHome/SCRAhome.htm

Sources

http://pa.water.usgs.gov/projects/energy/amd/ http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/districts/AMDPostMortem .html

http://epcamr.org/home/current-initiatives/ http://www.wpcamr.org/ http://www.shamokincreek.org/ http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/marsh/susquehanna/ehga.pdf

http://reclamationresearch.net/publications/Final_Lit_Review_AMD.pdf

http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kirby/AMDPrimer.html