Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa


Book Description

This SpringerBrief focuses on Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the three basins in the Witwatersrand, South Africa. It provides a background to AMD and its impactsfrom a social science perspective.The South African government and non-governmental organizations’ response to AMD is assessed, as well the socio-economic and developmental effects of AMD. This volume, which is based on the author’s Master’s dissertation at UNISA, involves interviews with a range of experts in the field from government departments, environmental organisations (activists), the private sector (mining), tourism sector and the agricultural sector. The book discusses existing policy documents on AMD and provides recommendations in response to the many socio-economic impacts which have not been fully addressed. A literature review on the global context of AMD is provided. South Africa’s water systems are already severely harmed by climate change, different forms of pollution, and poorly managed sanitation systems. For these reasons, the country is becoming increasingly water-stressed and therefore, water will continue to become much scarcer in the future. As a result of AMD’s continued impact on South Africa’s water systems, as a technical or scientific matter as well as the policy implications for the mining sector, water security and socio-economic sustainability has become a highly contested issue.




Management and Mitigation of Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa


Book Description

South Africa is facing the increasing challenge of acid mine drainage (AMD) whose genesis is the country’s mining history, which paid limited attention to post-mining mine site management. In mineral resource-rich Africa, this has emerged as one of the most daunting challenges of our time. South Africa has been bold in its approach to mitigating this problem, although the challenge is multi-faceted. On a positive note, substantial research has been conducted to confront the challenge. However, thus far, the research has been largely fragmented. This book builds on the work that has been done, but also provides a refreshing multi-disciplinary approach that is useful in addressing the AMD challenges that South Africa and the continent face. Whilst addressing the problem as a scientific and engineering challenge, the book also exposes the economic, policy and legal challenges involved in addressing the problem. The book concludes, quite uniquely, that AMD is an opportunity that can be used by South Africa and Africa to solve problems, such as acute water shortage, as well as mineral recovery operations.




Application of Nanotechnology in Mining Processes


Book Description

b”Application of Nanotechnology in Mining ProcessesNanotechnology has revolutionized processes in many industries but its application in the mining industry has not been widely discussed. This unique book provides an overview of the successful implementation of nanotechnology in some of the key environmental and beneficiation mining processes. This book explores extensively the potential of nanotechnology to revolutionize the mining industry which has been relying for a very long on processes with limited efficiencies. The nine specialized chapters focus on applying nanoflotation to improve mineral processing, effective extraction of metals from leachates or pregnant solutions using nanoscale supramolecular hosts, and development of nano-adsorbents or nano-based strategies for the remediation or valorization of AMD. The application of nanotechnology in mining has so far received little attention from the industry and researchers and this groundbreaking book features critical issues so far under-reported in the literature: Application of nanotechnology in mineral processing for the enhancement of froth flotation Development of smart nanomaterials and application for the treatment of acid mine drainage Recovery of values from pregnant solutions using nanoadsorbents Valorization of AMD through formation of multipurpose nanoproducts. Audience Industrial interest will be from mining plant operators, environmental managers, water treatment plants managers, and operators. Researchers in nanotechnology, environmental science, mining, and metallurgy engineering will find the book valuable, as will government entities such as regulatory bodies officers and environmentalists.




An Acid River Runs Through It (Softcover)


Book Description

In An Acid River Runs Through It, photographer Eva-Lotta Jansson documents how water pollution by mining activities - acid mine drainage - affects water sources and communities in South Africa. Large volumes of acidic water carrying toxic sulphates and metals such as lead, zinc, copper and radioactive uranium are released into the environment by both past and current mining activities. The poisonous water flows from gold and coal mining sites, largely untreated, into the groundwater and into streams and rivers. These pollutants affect water resources already under strain from water shortages due to global warming and pollution by untreated sewage and other waste water. Acid mine water pollution most directly impacts already disadvantaged people in society, but ultimately threatens everyone's water resources and well-being. Although toxic, the pollution creates landscapes that are sometimes both colorful and eerily beautiful. Such photographs include a yellow lakebed filled with uranium dust and a white field looking like it's covered in snow. The photographer focuses on landscapes like these on the ground as well as from the air. In intimate portraits, we also meet communities and individuals who come in direct contact with the pollution. They include the farmers who lost both livestock and loved ones, after they drank poisoned water. We also see children play in a pool of rusty-colored acid mine drainage flowing outside their school gates. The book includes interviews with both experts and those affected. That makes this a factual photo book, which thoroughly explains what acid mine drainage is. Although the problem plagues many nations, the book analyses - within a historical context - why it's particularly bad in South Africa. The resulting document portrays an unmitigated environmental disaster and a violation of human rights. This 82-page soft-cover photo book includes 64 photographs and about 8,000 words. Copyright © Eva-Lotta Jansson 2015.




Groundwater Geochemistry


Book Description

This book contains both practical and theoretical aspects of groundwater resources relating to geochemistry. Focusing on recent research in groundwater resources, this book helps readers to understand the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater resources. Dealing primarily with the sources of ions in groundwater, the book describes geogenic and anthropogenic input of ions into water. Different organic, inorganic and emerging contamination and salinity problems are described, along with pollution-related issues affecting groundwater. New trends in groundwater contamination remediation measures are included, which will be particularly useful to researchers working in the field of water conservation. The book also contains diverse groundwater modelling examples, enabling a better understanding of water-related issues and their management. Groundwater Geochemistry: Pollution and Remediation offers the reader: An understanding of the quantitative and qualitative challenges of groundwater resources An introduction to the environmental geochemistry of groundwater resources A survey of groundwater pollution-related issues Recent trends in groundwater conservation and remediation Mathematical and statistical modeling related to groundwater resources Students, lecturers and researchers working in the fields of hydrogeochemistry, water pollution and groundwater will find Groundwater Geochemistry an essential companion.




Coal Fly Ash Beneficiation


Book Description

The present book deals with various, very significant topics of coal fly ash beneficiation, such as treatment of acid mine drainage with coal fly ash, toxic metal adsorption using coal fly ash, recovery of metals from coal fly ash and phytoreclamation of abandoned acid mine drainage site after treatment with coal fly ash, the status of research in coal fly ash utilization and applications and some other related topics in this growing and increasingly important research area. Overall, coal fly ash beneficiation has come to assume an important role in most areas of waste management research today. Continued growth and emphasis on scientific research is expected in all areas of waste management and conversion of waste to wealth technologies.




Water Quality


Book Description

As concerns increase over the scarcity of water resources and the role of anthropogenic activities, water quality is evermore important. Activities ranging from agriculture to mining have had a bearing on the quality of water that they impact. Several studies assessing such impacts have been conducted at local and global scales over the years. This book, consisting of contributions by authors in various water-related fields, delves into some approaches that are used to understand and/or to improve water quality, and these include assessment of water chemistry, biomonitoring, modelling and water treatment. This book will be useful to environmental scientists, water professionals, researchers, academics and students.




Design Manual


Book Description




Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry


Book Description

In Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry, leading soil and water authority V. P. Evangelou presents a complete overview of the principles and applications of soil science, addressing the subject by viewing the interactions between soil and water as a basis for understanding the nature, extent, and treatment of polluted soil and water. The text opens with a discussion of principles - the fundamental tenets of chemistry needed to understand soil and water quality and treatment of polluted resources - and continues with a look at applications for the control and treatment of soil and water. This text is suitable for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students.




Zoo City


Book Description

A new edition of Lauren Beukes's Arthur C Clarke Award-winning novel set in a world where murderers and other criminals acquire magical animals that are mystically bonded to them. Zinzi has a Sloth on her back, a dirty 419 scam habit, and a talent for finding lost things. When a little old lady turns up dead and the cops confiscate her last paycheck, Zinzi's forced to take on her least favorite kind of job -- missing persons. Being hired by reclusive music producer Odi Huron to find a teenybop pop star should be her ticket out of Zoo City, the festering slum where the criminal underclass and their animal companions live in the shadow of hell's undertow. Instead, it catapults Zinzi deeper into the maw of a city twisted by crime and magic, where she'll be forced to confront the dark secrets of former lives -- including her own.