Interpretation
Acid-mine drainage occurs when sulfide-bearing waste rock and tailings come in contact with waters containing dissolved oxygen. The resulting oxidation reactions release associated metals and acidity, which may impact the biological community and significantly lower the pH of downstream waterways (Army, 2010). Released metals that are transported downstream may be removed from solution through precipitation of and sorption onto iron and manganese hydroxides. Attenuation of metals also has been attributed to precipitation and sorption within the hyporheic zone as contaminated waters infiltrate and mix with shallow.
Waste rock and tailings at the Ely Mine site have similar mineralogy and chemistry and leach comparable metal concentrations …show more content…
Affected water must be treated separately before allowing the water to go into the water body. In addition to that by completely blocking the path of seepage coming out of the Ely Mines we can treat the sites effectively (Army, 2010).
References
1. Army, U. (2010). BASELINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE EUREKA MILLS SUPERFUND SITE EUREKA, UTAH. US Army .
2. epa. (2011). Aquatic Assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund Site,Vershire, Vermont. Vermont: USGS.
3. epa. (2012). Human Health Risk Assessment. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov: http://www.epa.gov/risk_assessment/health-risk.htm
4. Nobis. (2011). Remedial Investigation. Vermont: USGS.
5. usgs. (2011). Stream Quality Assessment at the Ely Copper Mine Superfund Site, Vermont. Retrieved from http://nh.water.usgs.gov: http://nh.water.usgs.gov/projects/summaries/elymine.htm
6. uvm. (2011). Vermont Mining . Retrieved from http://www.uvm.edu: http://www.uvm.edu/~envprog/formslinks/Vermont%20Mining/Copper.html
7. Vermont. (2012). Vermont Copper Mines Superfund. Retrieved from http://www.palinc.com:
Acid-mine drainage occurs when sulfide-bearing waste rock and tailings come in contact with waters containing dissolved oxygen. The resulting oxidation reactions release associated metals and acidity, which may impact the biological community and significantly lower the pH of downstream waterways (Army, 2010). Released metals that are transported downstream may be removed from solution through precipitation of and sorption onto iron and manganese hydroxides. Attenuation of metals also has been attributed to precipitation and sorption within the hyporheic zone as contaminated waters infiltrate and mix with shallow.
Waste rock and tailings at the Ely Mine site have similar mineralogy and chemistry and leach comparable metal concentrations …show more content…
Affected water must be treated separately before allowing the water to go into the water body. In addition to that by completely blocking the path of seepage coming out of the Ely Mines we can treat the sites effectively (Army, 2010).
References
1. Army, U. (2010). BASELINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE EUREKA MILLS SUPERFUND SITE EUREKA, UTAH. US Army .
2. epa. (2011). Aquatic Assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund Site,Vershire, Vermont. Vermont: USGS.
3. epa. (2012). Human Health Risk Assessment. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov: http://www.epa.gov/risk_assessment/health-risk.htm
4. Nobis. (2011). Remedial Investigation. Vermont: USGS.
5. usgs. (2011). Stream Quality Assessment at the Ely Copper Mine Superfund Site, Vermont. Retrieved from http://nh.water.usgs.gov: http://nh.water.usgs.gov/projects/summaries/elymine.htm
6. uvm. (2011). Vermont Mining . Retrieved from http://www.uvm.edu: http://www.uvm.edu/~envprog/formslinks/Vermont%20Mining/Copper.html
7. Vermont. (2012). Vermont Copper Mines Superfund. Retrieved from http://www.palinc.com: