Transcript Acid Mine Drainage
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