Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage is an unwanted phenomenon associated with the Mining industry. The mines leave a big pit or a cave like opening in the earth after the earth has been dug away. The Gold mines and the Silver mines leave a tunnel after the mining operations. These mines after being abandoned and deserted start accumulating rain water.

The earth dug up and removed from the mines has a high content and concentration of heavy metals like lead, copper, aluminum, zinc, manganese and iron. The oxygen in the water combines with the sulphur content of the waste formed from the mines and a chemical reaction converts the sulphides to dangerous sulphuric acid.

Sulphuric acid is chemically highly reactive and corrosive too. This sulphuric acid works on the walls of the tunnels or on the pile of earth left near the tunnel openings. The walls of the tunnel also are extremely rich in the metal content and the heavy metals react with the sulphuric acid frees the metals and it is carried along with the water wherever it flows.

Water naturally would seep down through the ground to reach the part of the earth which is underground. The water now contaminates the ground water with the heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals and sulphuric acid.

The contaminated water has been shown to have extremely high acidic reaction with ph levels of about 3- 5.5.

The contamination and liberation of the toxic and poisonous chemicals and metals has a very deteriorating effect on the environment and also on the eco system. Humans inhabiting the areas which are proximal to the mining areas have been reported to have numerous health disorders.

The heavy metals like Mercury, lead, cadmium and Selenium can cause irreparable damage to human health. The pollution of the ground water which finally seeps in to the surrounding water sources have been found to damage the ability to give birth of certain amphibians like the frogs, salamander etc. The plants which grow in these areas also are hugely affected. To summarize the effects of the corrosive and toxic acid mine drainage, it can be safely said that this is a major health and environmental hazard.

The Acid mine drainage is an exceedingly important issue which needs to be addressed at the earliest. Measures to develop technological know how to effectively and safely dispose off the pilings accumulated around the mines need to be found out.

Leave a Comment

KKK said:

Go fuck bin laden hes waiting for A good Pounding in the tail pipe asshole

Old lady under the hill said:

I need A good pounding in my old wrinkly asshole, anybody interested?

Roughneck Definition

Roughneck Definition Oil Rigging Jobs

The economic downturn has caused many people to lose their jobs and finding a new job has become very difficult. Also people who have got jobs are finding it difficult to manage from the salaries they are drawing. Some work overtime and some apply for part-time jobs after their regular...

read entire definition