AMD
What group of minerals commonly oxidize to form AMD?
Sulfide minerals
True or False: Due to the bringing for important minerals to the surface during mining in the DRC, the operations have had a surprisingly positive impact on local ecology.
False
True or False: toxicity due to human exposure to cobalt is a significant issue in the area as the result of cobalt mining
False
Why would it be beneficial to recover certain minerals from AMD waters and effluents containing cyanides?
What does the study indicate is an effective means for controlling the production of AMD?
an elevated water table
What are 3 of the 6 primary factors of acid generation?
sulfide minerals, water, oxygen, ferric iron, bacteria, and generated heat
Exposure to what radioactive element is a cause of concern for both local environmental and human health?
Uranium
The distribution of what four metals was primarily focused on in the study looking at mine waste, sediment, soil, and water in and around mineral deposits and mines of the Idaho Cobalt Belt, USA
Cu, Co, As, and Fe
Process employed extensively in the extraction of gold and silver from ores.
Cyanidation
Is it more advantageous to have high or low porosity tailings is trying to prevent AMD?
Low porosity
What is Idaho's major current policy or regulation to address AMD?
There are no formal policies or regulations that specifically address AMD.
What is causing biodiversity loss in the DRC mining districts?
Destruction of natural habitats through mines and disposal sites.
What was found to be causing the elevated concentrations of Cu, Co, As and Fe in sediment and water runoff in the ICB?
weathering and dissolution of ore and secondary minerals in mined area
What is considered an efficient, efficient, and economical method for water purification?
Adsorption
What role does capillary rise play in preventing AMD?
The capillary rise must be sufficiently high to ensure that the sulphide minerals located above the water table are kept in a state close to water saturation.
Which crystallizes more quickly, framboidal pyrite or crystalline pyrite?
Framboidal pyrite
How much more cobalt in their urine did childen living the DRC mining district have compared to children living elsewhere?
10 times more
The weathering and dissolution of what two primary minerals is causing the low local pH of surface waters in the ICB?
Pyrite and Pyrrhotite
Advantages for this recovery technology include low energy consumption, separation of organic and inorganic substances, process selectivity, and low chemical consumption.
Membrane Technologies
How does the effective diffusion coefficient of oxygen impact the elevated water table technique?
The EWT technique relies on a very low effective diffusion coefficient of oxygen in saturated or nearly saturated porous media.
Why did the Cyprus Minerals Corporation Thompson Creek (Cyprus) facility begin the study of AMD generation from their waste rock and tailings in 1990?
Both intrusive and metasedimentary rocks have high sulfur content (up to 1.13 and 1.66 percent, respectively).
List the 7 environmental impacts that the World Banks reports as being the result of mining in the DRC
Biodiversity loss and the destruction of natural habitats, Air pollution, Siltation of wetlands and riparian areas, Changes in river ecology, Deforestation, Soil erosion, Land instability and ground subsidence.
What was the range of Cu concentrations in waste and stream sediment collected proximal to mines in the ICB?
390 to 19,000 μg/g
What process is widely used to remove heavy metals from wastewaters due to their high treatment capacity, high removal efficiency, and fast kinetics.
Ion exchange processes
What factors were used to evaluate the influence of different water table elevations on preventing AMD?
effluent pH, concentrations of major ions including sulphate, iron, zinc, copper, and lead.