Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dilution Processes of Rainfall-Enhanced Acid Mine Drainage Discharges from Historic Underground Coal Mines, New Zealand

  • Technical Article
  • Published:
Mine Water and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In much of the world, seasonal weather patterns cause a flush of dissolved contaminants from mined areas at the beginning of wet seasons. However, on parts of New Zealand’s west coast, the annual rainfall exceeds 6000 mm/year, with frequent rain days regardless of season; in these conditions, chemically rich flushes are short-lived and subsequently diluted. We studied two historic underground mine sites on the Denniston Plateau. Historic drainages from the Coalbrookdale workings into the Cascade Mine area discharge between ≈ 100 and ≈ 1000 L/s, depending on rainfall volume and frequency. The frequent rain on the plateau dilutes the Coalbrookdale discharge waters, increasing its pH and decreasing dissolved AMD constituents. During short-term high rainfall events, the increased flow causes a flush of stored AMD for less than 10 h, with decreased pH and increased dissolved concentrations of AMD constituents. In contrast, historic drainage at the Sullivan Mine showed little response to rainfall and there was virtually no changes in chemistry during or after high rainfall events. While negative downstream impacts occur at both sites, this study showed that quantification of the variability within a site’s flow regime is critical in understanding the impact of a mine site’s AMD in high rainfall areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alpers CN, Nordstrom DK, Thompson JM (1993) Seasonal variations of Zn/Cu ratios in acid mine water from Iron Mountain, California. Environ Geochem Sulfide Oxid ACS Symp Ser Ch 22:324–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers CN, Blowes D, Nordstrom DK, Jambor J (1994) Secondary minerals and acid mine-water chemistry. Mineral Assoc Canada Short Courses 22:247–270

    Google Scholar 

  • American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. The American Public Health Assoc, the American Water Works Assoc, and the Water Environment Federation, Washington DC, pp 258–259

  • American Public Health Association (APHA) (2012) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 22nd edn. The American Public Health Assoc, the American Water Works Assoc, and the Water Environment Federation, Washington DC

  • Bigham JM, Schwertmann U, Traina SJ, Winland RL, Wolf M (1996) Schwertmannite and the chemical modeling of iron in acid sulfate waters. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60(12):2111–2121

    Google Scholar 

  • Black A, Trumm D, Lindsay P (2005) Impacts of coal mining on water quality and metal mobilisation: case studies from West Coast and Otago. In: Moore TA, Black A, Centeno JA, Harding JS, Trumm DA (eds) Metal contaminants in New Zealand, Sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health. New Zealand, pp 247–260

  • Brown M, Barley B, Wood H (2002) Minewater treatment. IWA Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgos WD, Borch T, Troyer LD, Luan F, Larson LN, Brown JF, Lambson J, Shimizu M (2012) Schwertmannite and Fe oxides formed by biological low-pH Fe(II) oxidation versus abiotic neutralization: impact on trace metal sequestration. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 76:29–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne P, Reid I, Wood PJ (2013) Stormflow hydrochemistry of a river draining an abandoned metal mine: the Afon Twymyn, central Wales. Environ Monit Assess 185(3):2817–2832

    Google Scholar 

  • Cánovas CR, Olías M, Nieto JM, Galván L (2010) Wash-out processes of evaporitic sulfate salts in the Tinto river: hydrogeochemical evolution and environmental impact. Appl Geochem 25(2):288–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraballo MA, Macías F, Nieto JM, Ayora C (2016) Long term fluctuations of groundwater mine pollution in a sulfide mining district with dry Mediterranean climate: implications for water resources management and remediation. Sci Total Environ 539:427–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Clapcott JE, Goodwin EO, Harding JS (2016) Identifying catchment-scale predictors of coal mining impacts on New Zealand stream communities. Environ Manag 57(3):711–721

    Google Scholar 

  • Cravotta III CA (1994) Secondary iron-sulfate minerals as sources of sulfate and acidity: Geochemical evolution of acidic groundwater at a reclaimed surface coal mine in Pennsylvania. In: Alpers CN, Blowes DW (eds), Environmental geochemistry of sulfide oxidation, ACS symp series 550, Washington, pp 345–364

  • Davies H, Weber P, Lindsay P, Craw D, Pope J (2011a) Characterisation of acid mine drainage in a high rainfall mountain environment, New Zealand. Sci Total Environ 409(15):2971–2980

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies H, Weber P, Lindsay P, Craw D, Peake B, Pope J (2011b) Geochemical changes during neutralisation of acid mine drainage in a dynamic mountain stream, New Zealand. Appl Geochem 26(12):2121–2133

    Google Scholar 

  • de Joux A (2003) Geochemical investigation and computer modelling of Acid Mine drainage, Sullivan Mine, Denniston Plateau, West Coast. M.Sc. thesis, University of Canterbury, NZ

  • España JS, Pamo EL, Santofimia E, Aduvire O, Reyes J, Barettino D (2005) Acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Odiel river watershed, Huelva, SW Spain): geochemistry, mineralogy and environmental implications. Appl Geochem 20(7):1320–1356

    Google Scholar 

  • España JS, Pamo EL, Pastor ES, Andrés JR, Rubí JM (2006) The removal of dissolved metals by hydroxysulphate precipitates during oxidation and neutralization of acid mine waters, Iberian Pyrite Belt. Aquat Geochem 12(3):269–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Martinez A, Timon V, Roman-Ross G, Cuello GJ, Daniels JE, Ayora C (2010) The structure of schwertmannite, a nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxysulfate. Am Mineral 95(8–9):1312–1322

    Google Scholar 

  • Flores RM, Sykes R (1996) Depositional controls on coal distribution and quality in the Eocene Brunner Coal measures, Buller Coalfield, South Island, New Zealand. Int J Coal Geol 29(4):291–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths GA, McSaveney MJ (1983) Distribution of mean annual precipitation across some steepland regions of New Zealand. N Z J Sci 26(2):197–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Hach (2007) DR 2800 spectrophotometer procedures manual. Edition 2, Hach company, Loveland, Colorado, USA. Catalog Number DOC022.53.00725

  • Hammarstrom JM, Seal Ii RR, Meier AL, Kornfeld JM (2005) Secondary sulfate minerals associated with acid drainage in the eastern US: recycling of metals and acidity in surficial environments. Chem Geol 215(1–4):407–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden R, Clarkson TS (1986) Acid rain: a New Zealand viewpoint. J R Soc NZ 16(1):1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson AD, Blum JD, Chamberlain CP, Craw D, Koons PO (2003) Climatic and tectonic controls on chemical weathering in the New Zealand Southern Alps. Geochim CosmochimActa 67(1):29–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Kefeni KK, Msagati TA, Mamba BB (2017) Acid mine drainage: prevention, treatment options, and resource recovery: a review. J Clean Prod 151:475–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee MH, Choi GS, Cho YH, Lee CW, Shin HS (2001) Concentrations and activity ratios of uranium isotopes in the groundwater of the Okchun Belt in Korea. J Environ Radioact 57(2):105–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee G, Bigham JM, Faure G (2002) Removal of trace metals by coprecipitation with Fe, Al and Mn from natural waters contaminated with acid mine drainage in the Ducktown Mining District, Tennessee. Appl Geochem 17(5):569–581

    Google Scholar 

  • Lottermoser B (2003) Mine wastes. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • McCauley C, O’Sullivan A, Weber P, Trumm D (2010) Variability of Stockton Coal Mine drainage chemistry and its treatment potential with biogeochemical reactors. NZ J of Geol Geop 53(2–3):211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichol R, Overmars F (2008) Vegetation and Flora Baseline Survey Whareatea Mine Access Road L and M Coal Ltd Escarpment Mine Project Denniston Plateau. Report to Resource and Environmental Management Ltd, New Zealand (unpublished)

  • Nordstrom DK (1982) The effect of sulfate on aluminum concentrations in natural waters: some stability relations in the system Al2O3–SO3–H2O at 298 K. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 46(4):681–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK (2008) Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation 25. Summary of results and baseline and pre-mining ground-water geochemistry, Red River Valley, Taos County, New Mexico, 2001–2005. US Geological Survey

  • Nordstrom DK (2009) Acid rock drainage and climate change. J Geochem Explor 100(2–3):97-104.2

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK (2011) Hydrogeochemical processes governing the origin, transport and fate of major and trace elements from mine wastes and mineralized rock to surface waters. Appl Geochem 26(11):1777–1791

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Alpers CN (1999) Negative pH, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for environmental restoration at the Iron Mountain Superfund site, California. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96(7):3455–3462

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Ball JW, Roberson CE, Hanshaw BB (1984) The effect of sulfate on aluminum concentrations in natural waters: II. Field occurrences and identification of aluminum hydroxysulfate precipitates. Geol Soc Am Program Abstr 16(6):611

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Blowes DW, Ptacek CJ (2015) Hydrogeochemistry and microbiology of mine drainage: an update. Appl Geochem 57:3–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Pak G, Hong U, Jung M, Kim H, Han K, Mallari KJB, Kim S, Kim Y, Yoon J (2015) Characteristics of hydrochemical variations and contaminant load during rainfall in an acid mine drainage-impacted watershed, Korea. Desalin Water Treat 54(13):3511–3522

    Google Scholar 

  • Park JH, Han YS, Ahn JS (2016) Comparison of arsenic co-precipitation and adsorption by iron minerals and the mechanism of arsenic natural attenuation in a mine stream. Water Res 106:295–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (Version 2): a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Water-Resour Investig Rep 99(4259):312

    Google Scholar 

  • Plumlee GS, Logsdon MJ (1999) The environmental geochemistry of mineral deposits, vol 6A. Reviews in Economic Geology, pp 1–583

  • Pope J, Reichelt-Brushett A, McConchie D (2005) Trace geochemistry in Waiotapu Stream: a small stream in receipt of geothermal discharge. In: Moore TA, Black A, Centeno JA, Harding JS, Trumm DA (eds) Metal contaminants in New Zealand, sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health. New Zealand, pp 115–137

  • Pope J, Newman N, Craw D, Trumm D, Rait R (2010a) Factors that influence coal mine drainage chemistry, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. New Zeal J Geol Geop 53(Special Edition - Mine Drainages):115–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope J, Weber P, MacKenzie A, Newman N, Rait R (2010b) Correlation of acid base accounting characteristics with the Geology of commonly mined coal measures, West Coast and Southland, New Zealand. New Zeal J Geol Geop 53:153–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Regenspurg S, Peiffer S (2005) Arsenate and chromate incorporation in schwertmannite. Appl Geochem 20(6):1226–1239

    Google Scholar 

  • RoyChowdhury A, Sarkar D, Datta R (2015) Remediation of acid mine drainage-impacted water. Curr Pollut Rep 1(3):131–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Shim MJ, Choi BY, Lee G, Hwang YH, Yang JS, O’Loughlin EJ, Kwon MJ (2015) Water quality changes in acid mine drainage streams in Gangneung, Korea, 10 years after treatment with limestone. J Geochem Explor 159:234–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Titheridge DG (1992) The depositional setting of the Brunner Coal Measures, Buller coalfield. Resource Information. Energy and Resources Division, Ministry of Commerce, New Zealand

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson AI, Sansom J (1994) Rainfall normals for New Zealand. NIWA Science and technology series 3

  • Trumm DA, Black A, Gordon K, Cavanagh J, O’Halloran, K, de Joux A (2005) Acid mine drainage assessment and remediation at an abandoned West Coast coal mine. In: Moore TA, Black A, Centeno JA, Harding JS, Trumm DA (eds) Metal contaminants in New Zealand, sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health. New Zealand, pp 317–340

  • Trumm D, Pope J, West R, Weber P (2016) Bellvue Mine AMD—downstream geochemistry and proposed treatment. In: Proceedings of AusIMM New Zealand branch annual conference, Wellington, New Zealand

  • Trumm D, Pope J, West R, Weber P (2017) Downstream geochemistry and proposed treatment—Bellvue mine AMD, New Zealand. In: Wolkersdorfer C, Sartz L, Sillanpää M, Häkkinen A (eds) Mine water & circular economy, vol I. Lappeenranta University of Technology. Lappeenranta, Finland, pp 580–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Waters AS, Webster-Brown JG (2016) Is dilution a solution to aluminium toxicity in an acid mine drainage affected stream on the stockton Plateau, New Zealand 2016. Mine Water Environ 35(2):235–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolkersdorfer C (2008) Water management at abandoned flooded underground mines: fundamentals, tracer tests, modelling, water treatment. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Younger PL (1997) The longevity of minewater pollution: a basis for decision-making. Sci Total Environ 194:457–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Younger PL (2000) The adoption and adaptation of passive treatment technologies for mine waters in the United Kingdom. Mine Water Environ 19(2):84–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Younger PL, Banwart SA, Hedin RS (2002) Mine water: hydrology, pollution, remediation. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Younger PL, Blachere A, Price WA, Bellefontaine K (2004) First-flush, reverse first-flush and partial first-flush: dynamics of short-and long-term changes in the quality of water flowing from deep mine systems. In: Proceedings of the 10th annual British Columbia ML/ARD workshop, performance of ARD generating wastes, material characterization and MEND projects, Vancouver

  • Yu JY, Heo B, Choi IK, Cho JP, Chang HW (1999) Apparent solubilities of schwertmannite and ferrihydrite in natural stream waters polluted by mine drainage. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63(19–20):3407–3416

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu JY, Park M, Kim J (2002) Solubilities of synthetic schwertmannite and ferrihydrite. Geochem J 36(2):119–132

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment to the Centre for Mine Environment Research (CMER) led by CRL Energy, and scholarships from the University of Otago, and the AusIMM EET NZ. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the West Coast Regional Council for the use of their YSI 6-series sonde. Access to the mine site and logistical support was provided by Bathurst Resources Limited. Dave Barr, Gemma Kerr, Marianne Negrini and Stephen Read ably provided technical assistance. Thanks to Aaron Dutton, Jason Jewiss, Christine McLachlan and Emma Scanlan for their assistance in the field.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Carrie Jewiss & Dave Craw

  2. CRL Energy, P.O. Box 29 415, Christchurch, New Zealand

    James Pope, Hana Christenson & Dave Trumm

Authors
  1. Carrie Jewiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dave Craw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James Pope
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hana Christenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dave Trumm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carrie Jewiss.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jewiss, C., Craw, D., Pope, J. et al. Dilution Processes of Rainfall-Enhanced Acid Mine Drainage Discharges from Historic Underground Coal Mines, New Zealand. Mine Water Environ 39, 27–41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00650-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00650-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation