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Application
of stable isotope techniques to the investigation of acid mine drainage at
abandoned mine sites
Acid mine drainage (AMD) can constitute a major source of downstream water
pollution in areas of both past and present mining activities. The current
project examines the application of innovative stable isotope techniques
integrated with hydrogeochemical and mineralogical techniques to investigate
the evolution of AMD. This investigation includes examining the role of
secondary precipitation and developing the techniques to make the
distinction between natural and mining related sources of sulfate in water.
The site of this project is a river adjacent to an historic copper gold mine
fromwhich acidic, metal-rich drainage flows. The results of the study have
shown a systematic relationship between the concentration of dissolved
sulfate in the river and its sulfur isotope composition. It is envisaged
that the findings of this study will lead to a further understanding of the
processes involved in the formation of AMD, the identification of major
sources of contamination and hence opportunities for prioritising
remediation strategies for those areas that are the major sources of the
contamination.
Sponsors: Minerals Industry and Queensland State Government
through the SMI.
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