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Assessing the acidic potential of waste rock in the Akara gold mine, Thailand

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Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is the environmental issue that generates the greatest public concern regarding the mining industry. Thus, characterization of mine waste rock according to acid generation potential is necessary for mining operations to ensure proper waste rock storage and to avoid future adverse environmental effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the potential of AMD generation in the largest operating gold mine in Thailand by using acid base accounting and net acid generation tests. Representative samples of six types of waste rock classified by mining geologists for mineral processing and waste dum** were collected for this study: volcanic clastic, porphyritic andesite, andesite, silicified tuff, silicified lapilli tuff, and sheared tuff. Under various conditions, experimental results indicate that only silicified lapilli tuff and shear tuff are potentially acid-forming materials. The results indicate that AMD generation may possibly occur a long time after mine closure due to the lag time of the dissolution of acid-neutralizing sources. Acidic generation from some waste rocks may occur in the future based on environmental conditions, particularly the oxidation of sulphide minerals by the combination of oxygen and water. Therefore, a proper design for waste rock dum** and storage is necessary to reduce the risk of AMD generation in future. It is advisable to install a surface management system to control the overland flow direction away from the waste dump area and tailing storage facility and to install a second water storage pond next to the main storage pond to store the spilled water during storms and the rainy season. A water quality monitoring plan that focuses on disturbed areas such as water storage ponds and mine pits should be put in place.

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Abbreviations

AMD:

Acid mine drainage

ABA:

Acid base accounting

NAG:

Net acid generation

NAGpH:

Final pH of NAG test

MPA:

Maximum acid potential

ANC:

Acid-neutralization capacity

NAPP:

Net acid production potential

PAF:

Potential acid forming

NAF:

Non-acid forming

UC:

Uncertain classification

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Acknowledgments

This research could not have been conducted without the financial support of the National Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (NCE-EHWM) and the Graduate School at Chulalongkorn University. Their support is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank the following individuals: Yaowanud Chandung and Supanit Supananti of the Akara Gold Mine for allowing the collection of samples from the mine waste rock; Thananun Pratummin and Veerasak Lunvongsa, colleagues from the same mine, for hel** with the field investigation and data; and Jiraprapa Neampan and Sopit Poompuang of the Geology Department, Chulalongkorn University, for assistance with the experiments. The authors also acknowledge the help from Mary Pull, Director, Center for Writers, North Dakota State University, USA, to improve the clarity of language of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (NCE-EHWM), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    C. Changul, Chakkaphan Sutthirat & C. Tongcumpou

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chakkaphan Sutthirat

  3. Environmental Research Institute, Institute Building 2, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chakkaphan Sutthirat & C. Tongcumpou

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    G. Padmanahban

Authors
  1. C. Changul
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  2. Chakkaphan Sutthirat
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  3. G. Padmanahban
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  4. C. Tongcumpou
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Correspondence to Chakkaphan Sutthirat.

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Changul, C., Sutthirat, C., Padmanahban, G. et al. Assessing the acidic potential of waste rock in the Akara gold mine, Thailand. Environ Earth Sci 60, 1065–1071 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0251-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0251-x

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