Acid Mine Drainage

Refers to ground water pumped out of a mine, as well as rain water soaking through

waste dumps and mill tailings ponds containing sulphide minerals.

There are many governmental environmental agencies that monitor water tables, rivers

and streams, imposing large fines and possible mine closure when leakage is allowed

to enter the environment beyond permissible levels.  Responsible mine companies take

great care in discharging and disposing of acidic water.

The biggest problem today is the leakage from old redundant mines which closed a long time

ago.  In the early days of mining there was little or no regard for environmental issues and old

mines now act as a channel for the natural system of seeping moisture through iron pyrites etc

that create acid water.  New technologies are constantly being developed to address this issue.

see also: acid mine water, acid precipitation, acidic rocks, environmental issues