Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the primary environmental concerns in the coal mining industries. It is relatively more common in the coalfield deposited influenced by marine environment. The Makum coalfield, the largest Tertiary coalfields in India, is located in Assam and well known for generating AMD. The assessment of potential AMD has been done using the acid base accounting (ABA) study which serves as the principal tool for predicting the post mining water quality. In this paper a detailed mineralogical study of overburden, the static ABA test for both coal and overburden samples along with their leaching studies have been conducted. The coal seams and laminated carbonaceous shale contain significant amount of pyrite. Mineralogical study of the overburden reveals that dolomite is the dominant controlling mineral with trace amounts of calcite for neutralizing the acid generated by the oxidation of pyrite. The relatively higher amount of dolomite is found to be associated with siltstone and non-laminated (massive) carbonaceous shale. The ABA results indicated that all the coal seams, and few overburden materials have acid generating potential. Concentration of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in overburden is above their respective crustal abundances. However, Pb is above its crustal abundance in coal. Leaching experiment infers that overburden containing high pyrite has more potential for releasing metals relative to those having less pyrite. Concentrations of Mn, Ni and Pb in the leachate are found to be much higher than their respective water quality guideline. Abnormally high concentration of Mn is found to be associated with the dissolution of siderite. Coal releases significantly high concentration of Ni. The results of ABA and leachate study are nearly consistent with the direct mine discharge quality.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gray, N. F. (1997). Environmental impact and remediation of acid mine drainage: A management problem. Environmental Geology, 30, 62–71.
Guseva, O., Opitz, A. K., Broadhurst, J. L., Harrison, S. T., & Becker, M. (2021). Characterisation and prediction of acid rock drainage potential in waste rock: Value of integrating quantitative mineralogical and textural measurements. Minerals Engineering, 163, 106750.
Jambor, J. L., Dutrizac, J. E., Raudsepp, M., & Groat, L. A. (2003). Effect of peroxide on neutralization potential values of siderite and other carbonate minerals. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32(6), 2373–2378.
Perry, E. (1985). Overburden analysis: An evaluation methods. In Proceedings Symposium of Surface Mining, Hydrology, Sedimentology and Reclamation (pp. 369–375).
Skousen, J., Simmons, J., McDonald, L. M., & Ziemkeiwicz, P. (2002). Acid-base accounting to predict post-mining drainage quality on surface mines. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 2034–2044.
Sherlock, E. J., Lawrence, R. W., & Poulin, R. (1995). On the neutralization of acid rock drainage by carbonate and silicate minerals. Environmental Geology, 25, 43–54.
Perry, E. F., & Brady, K. B. C. (1995). Influence of neutralization potential on surface mine drainage in Pennsylvania. In Proceedings Sixteenth Annual West Virginia Surface Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium (p. 16).
Jambor, J. L., Dutrizac, J. E., Groat, L. A., & Raudsepp, M. (2002). Static tests of neutralization potentials of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals. Environmental Geology, 43, 1–17.
Jambor, J. L., Dutrizac, J. E., & Raudsepp, M. (2007). Measured and computed neutralization potentials from static tests of diverse rock types. Environmental Geology, 52, 1019–1031.
Skousen, J., Renton, J., Brown, H., Evans, P., Leavitt, B., Brady, K., Cohen, L., & Ziemkiewicz, P. (1997). Neutralization potential of overburden samples containing siderite. Journal of Environmental Quality, 26, 673–681.
Daniels, W. L., Zipper, C. E., & Orndorff, Z. W. (2014). Predicting release and aquatic effects of total dissolved solids from Appalachian USA coal mines. International Journal of Coal Science Technology, 1(2), 152–162.
Shan, Y., Wang, W., Qin, Y., & Gao, L. (2019). Multivariate analysis of trace elements leaching from coal and host rock. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 8, 402–412.
Equeenuddin, S. M., Tripathy, S., Sahoo, P. K., & Panigrahi, M. K. (2013). Metal behavior in sediment associated with acid mine drainage stream: Role of pH. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 124, 230–237.
Sahoo, P. K., Equeenuddin, S. K., & Powell, M. A. (2016). Trace elements in soils around coal mines: Current scenario, impact and available techniques for management. Current Pollution Reports, 2, 1–14.
Zhou, C., Liu, G., Wu, D., Fang, T., Wang, R., & Fan, X. (2014). Mobility behavior and environmental implications of trace elements associated with coal gangue: A case study at the Huainan Coalfield in China. Chemosphere, 95, 193–199.
Quevauviller, P. H., Van Der Sloot, H. A., Ure, A., Muntau, H., Gomez, A., & Rauret, G. (1996). Conclusions of the workshop: Harmonization of leaching/extraction tests for environmental risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 178(1–3), 133–139.
Equeenuddin, S. M., Tripathy, S., Sahoo, P. K., & Panigrahi, M. K. (2010). Hydrogeochemical characteristics of acid mine drainage and water pollution at Makum coalfield, India. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 105(3), 75–82.
Rawat, N. S., & Singh, G. (1982). The role of micro-organism in the formation of acid mine drainage in the north eastern coal field of India. International Journal of Mine Water, 1(2), 29–36.
Ahmed, M. (1996). Petrology of Oligocene coal, Makum coalfield, Assam, northeast India. International Journal of Coal Geology, 30(4), 319–325.
Baruah, B. P., Saikia, B. K., Kotoky, P., & Rao, P. G. (2006). Aqueous leaching of high sulfur sub-bituminous coals in Assam, India. Energy & Fuels, 20(4), 1550–1555.
Baruah, B. P., Kotoky, P., & Borah, G. C. (2003). Distribution and nature of organic/mineral bound elements in Assam coals, India. Fuel, 82(14), 1783–1791.
Barooah, P. K., & Baruah, M. K. (1996). Sulphur in Assam coal. Fuel Processing Technology, 46(2), 83–97.
Rajarathnam, S., Chandra, D., & Handique, G. K. (1996). An overview of chemical properties of marine-influenced Oligocene coal from the northeastern part of the Assam-Arakan basin, India. International Journal of Coal Geology, 29(4), 337–361.
Mukherjee, S., & Borthakur, P. C. (2003). Effect of leaching high sulphur subbituminous coal by potassium hydroxide and acid on removal of mineral matter and sulphur. Fuel, 82(7), 783–788.
Chandra, D., Chaudhuri, S. G., & Ghose, S. (1980). Distribution of sulphur in coal seams with special reference to the Tertiary coals of North-Eastern India. Fuel, 59(5), 357–359.
Price, W. A., Morin, K., Hutt, N. (1997). Guidelines for the prediction of acid-rock drainage and metal leaching for mines in British Columbia: Part II recommended procedures for static and kinetic testing. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (pp. 15–30).
Sobek, A., Schuller, W., Freeman, J. R., & Smith, R. M. (1978). Field and laboratory methods applicable to overburdens and minesoils. Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency Report, EPA-600/2-78-054, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Brady, K. B. C., Perry, E. F., Beam, R. L., Bisko, D. C., Gardner, M. D., Tarantino, J. M. (1994). Evaluation of acid base accounting to predict the quality of drainage at surface coal mines in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. In International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference on the Abatement of Acidic Drainage. Vol. 1: Mine drainage—SP 06A-94 (pp. 138–147).
Sobek, A. A., Skousen, J. G., & Scott, E. F. (2000). Chemical and physical properties of overburdens and minesoils. In R. I. Barnhisel, R. G. Darmody, & W. L. Daniels (Eds.), Reclamation of drastically disturbed lands. Agronomy monograph number 41 (pp. 77–104). American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, & Soil Science Society of America.
Haney, E. B., Haney, R. L., Hossner, L. R., & White, G. N. (2006). Neutralization potential determination of siderite (FeCO3) using selective oxidants. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35(3), 871–879.
Perry, E. (1998). Interpretation of acid-base accounting. Chapter 11. In Coal mine drainage prediction and pollution prevention in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection.
Chon, H. T., Kim, J. Y., & Choi, S. Y. (1999). Hydrogeochemical characteristics of acid mine drainage around the abandoned Youngdong Coal Mine in Korea. Resource Geology, 49(2), 113–120.
Evangelou, V. P. (1998). Environmental soil and water chemistry: Principles and applications. Wiley & Sons.
Sahoo, P. K., Tripathy, S., Equeenuddin, S. M., & Panigrahi, M. K. (2012). Geochemical characteristics of coal mine discharge vis-à -vis behavior of rare earth elements at Jaintia Hills coalfield, northeastern India. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 112, 235–243.
Saria, L., Shimaoka, T., & Miyawaki, K. (2006). Leaching of heavy metals in acid mine drainage. Waste Management & Research, 24(2), 134–140.
Larsen, D., & Mann, R. (2005) Origin of high manganese concentrations in coal mine drainage, eastern Tennessee. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 86, 143–163.
Finkelman, R. B., Palmer, C. A., Krasnow, M. R., Aruscavage, P. J., Sellers, G. A., & Dulong, F. T. (1990). Combustion and leaching behavior of elements in the Argonne premium coal samples. Energy & Fuels, 4(6), 755–766.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Equeenuddin, S.M., Tripathy, S., Sahoo, P.K., Panigrahi, M.K. (2024). Acid Mine Drainage and Metal Leaching Potential at Makum Coalfield, Northeastern India. In: Das, S.K., Reddy, K.R., Nainegali, L., Jain, S. (eds) Geoenvironmental and Geotechnical Issues of Coal Mine Overburden and Mine Tailings. Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6294-5_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6294-5_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-6293-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-6294-5
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)