The non-participation of organic sulphur in acid mine drainage generation

D.J. Casagrande; R. B. Finkelman; F.T. Caruccio

doi:10.1007/bf01758669

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The non-participation of organic sulphur in acid mine drainage generation

D.J. Casagrande·R. B. Finkelman·F.T. Caruccio

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Abstract

Acid mine drainage is commonly associated with land disturbances that encounter and expose iron sulphides to oxidising atmospheric conditions. The attendant acidic conditions solubilise a host of trace metals. Within this flow regime the potential exists to contaminate surface drinking water supplies with a variety of trace materials. Accordingly, in evaluating the applications for mines located in the headwaters of water sheds, the pre-mining prediction of the occurrence of acid mine drainage is of paramount importance. There is general agreement among investigators that coal organic sulphur is a nonparticipant in acid mine drainage generation; however, there is no scientific documentation to support this consensus. Using simulated weathering, kinetic, mass balance, petrographic analysis and a peroxide oxidation procedure, coal organic sulphur is shown to be a nonparticipant in acid mine drainage generation. Calculations for assessing the acid-generating potential of a sedimentary rock should not include organic sulphur content.

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D.J. Casagrande, R. B. Finkelman, F.T. Caruccio. 1989. The non-participation of organic sulphur in acid mine drainage generation. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01758669

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