PREVENTION AND MITIGATION

STRATEGIES FOR ACID MINE

DRAINAGE
(CASE OF MCHENGA COAL MINES)
  OVERVIEW
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
 OBJECTIVES

Contents 


JUSTIFICATION
SIGNIFICANCE
 STUDY AREA
 LITERATURE REVIEW
 METHODOLOGY
 CONCLUSION
 Overview

ACID ROCK DRAINAGE DEFINITION (ARD)

 Chemical reactions between water, air and sulfate compounds
 High Concentrations of the heavy metals as a result of high
acidity.
 ARD is also termed AMD when reactions are as direct result of
mining
Sulphate Minerals
Pyrite Oxygen Water

Acid Mine Drainage

Problem Statement

Impacts of Acid Mine Drainage

 Impact on Aquatic Life
 Social and Community Effects
 Effects on Operations
 Ecological Effects
Problem statement
Objectives

Main Objectives
Assessing the impacts of AMD and recommending feasible short-term and long-
term solutions to AMD emerging in the study area.
Specific Objectives
i. To examine the water quality in the field i.e. Specific conductivity, Water
temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity
ii. Asses water characters (in Lab) i.e. Acidity, Alkalinity, Total Iron, Aluminum,
Manganese, Sulphur
iii. Ascertaining water Quality by comparing with standard acceptable ranges
iv. Evaluate Control Measures
v. Approximating Costs for the proposed mitigation measures
 Justification
 Acid formation and outflow persist long after mining is stopped
 Mchenga Coal Mines found along Rumphi river hence the need to
either prevented or treated AMD

s
Significance

contribution to environmental protection.

safeguarding the health of those living close
to the research area.
SOURCES OF AMD
A M D C H E M E S T RY
Available methods for controlling
and Treating of AMD

1. Preventive Measures
 Control of Water Movement
 Physical Separation Barriers for Water and Oxygen
(a)Dry cover
(b) Water Covers
2. C o r r e c t i v e ( Tr e a t m e n t ) M e a s u r e s
 To eliminate Acidity (Raising pH)
 To remove dissolved heavy metals
 Methodology

Common field parameters Laboratory Parameters

i. Specific conductivity i. Acidity

ii. Water temperature ii. Alkalinity
iii. Dissolved oxygen iii. Total Iron
iv. Aluminum
iv. Discharge
v. Manganese
v. pH
Data Analysis

 Evaluation and analysis based on standard WHO and MBS

water quality standard
 Datawill be presented in Graphs or tables for easy
comprehension
 Wo r k - P l a n

ACTIVITIES Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct
Project supervision                  

Proposal development,                  
Submission and oral presentation

Literature Review                  

Data Collection                  

Interim report writing and submission                  

Data analysis, final report writing                  

Oral presentation for project findings                  

Submission of project final report                  

Proposed Budget

ITEM ITEM DESCRIPTION COST (MK) QUANTITY TOTAL COST (MK)

NO.

1 Transport to and from Mchenga Coal 100,000.00 1 75,000.00

Mine for sample collection

2 Lime 2,000.00 3kgs 6,000.00

3 Internet service 20,000.00 1 20,000.00

4 Coal fly Ash 5, 000.00 3kg 15, 000.00

5 Laboratory fee (Cost of doing XRF 30,000   30,000.00

analysis)
6 Sampling equipment 15,000 1 15,000

7 Contagious 10% (total cost 1 16,100

above)

  171,100
Conclusion

 AMD Chemical reactions between water, air and sulfate

compounds that make water acidic
 Acidic water pose a great threat no the environment any all
organisms living in it
 Sources of acid mine drainage can be grouped as primary and
secondary
 Prevention is a way to go but treatment follows if AMD can not
be prevented
 References

Brady, K.B.C., Smith, M.W., and Schueck, J., 1998. Coal Mine Drainage Prediction and Pollution Prevention in
Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
B.G. Lottermoser, Mine Wastes, 3rd ed C Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
Cooper W.G.G , 1959 – The Geology of the Livingstonia Coalfield, Government Printer, zomba , Nyasalandi
Hill, R. D., & Bates, E. R. (1979). Acid Mine Drainage and Subsidence: Effects of Increased Coal
Utilization. Environmental Health Perspectives, 33, 177-190. https://doi.org/10.2307/3429083
Ojonimi, I.T., Asuke, F., Onimisi, M.A. and Onuh, C.Y. 2019. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): an environmental
concern generated by coal mining. J. Degrade. Min. Land Manage. 6(4): 1875-1881,
DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2019.064.1875.
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Thank you