Hard Rock Mining, Natural Acid Rock Drainage, Mining Acid Rock Drainage, Neutral Acid Rock Drainage

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Explorers have found valuable deposits in Michigan, and are studying the feasibility of mining their deposits. With the possibility of new mining operations, excitement has been building. There is anticipation of economical boosts and concern that these new mining operations will leave the land in better condition than many of the earlier mining operations in the UP.

During my studies of sulfide mining, I have studied everything from exploration of sulfide deposits to mine closure and monitoring procedures. I have seen minerals that contain sulfur yet are very slow to oxidize and I have seen ore samples that are so reactive that if they were to be stacked more than 6 inches high and exposed to oxygen they would spontaneously combust. I have searched through thousands of pages of information. I have visited many mines. I wrote a good portion of a report on the subject of sulfide mining, which may someday be published.

If you are looking to learn a bit about sulfide mining, keep this in mind. The chemical and physical variables are complex and vary from site to site. I can think of one mine in particular that was full of sulfides but never had any issues with acid generation from its mine or waste rock because of the large quantities of acid neutralizing rocks present. Other sites have acid generation actively happening in a naturally without the presence of mines, and there are some mine sites that have acid generation as well.

If you are looking for more information on sulfide mining and acid rock drainage, I highly recommend 3 sites.

The first site I recommend is from Robertson Geo-Consultants, the site is: http://technology.infomine.com/enviromine/ard/home.htm

The next site I recommend is from the ADTI (Acid Drainage Technology Initiative): ADTI (Acid Drainage Technology Initiative)

One more site I’ll recommend today is from the Pennsylvania DEP: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bamr/amd/science_of_amd.htm

Keep in mind that not all web sites out there are correct. Keep in mind that the variables can be complex, and will vary from ARD site to ARD site. The rock composition can be different chemically, crystal structures can be different, physical size of particles can be different, shear strengths, different water flows, porosity, airflow, temperature, mediating chemicals, iron content, physical geography of the area, biological content, weathering, erosion, vegetation and other variables can all have influence on what will happen as far as ARD is concerned.

What this means is take the information you find on the web with a grain of salt.

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What this means is take the information you find on the web with a grain of salt.

More web links for mining information pertaining to hard rock mining.

Acid Rock Drainage

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