Site-Specific Study on Stabilization of Acid-Generating Mine Tailings Using Coal Fly Ash
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 18, Issue 2
Abstract
A site-specific study on stabilizing acid-generating mine tailings from Sudbury Mine using a coal fly ash from Nanticoke Generating Station is presented in this paper. The objective of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of codisposal of the fly ash and mine tailings to reduce environmental impacts of Sudbury tailings disposal sites. The study includes three phases, i.e., characterization of the mine tailings, and coal fly ash, oxidation tests on the mine tailings and kinetic column permeation tests. The results of the experiments indicate that when permeated with acid mine drainage, the hydraulic conductivity of Nanticoke coal fly ash decreased more than three orders of magnitude (from to ), mainly due to chemical reactions between the ash solids and acid mine drainage. Furthermore, the hydraulic gradient required for acid mine drainage to break through the coal fly ash is increased up to ten times (from 17 to 150) as compared with that for water. The results also show that the leachate from coal fly ash neutralizes the acidic pore fluid of mine tailings. The concentrations of trace elements in effluents from all kinetic column permeation tests indicated that coplacement of coal fly ash with mine tailings has the benefit of immobilizing trace elements, especially heavy metals. All regulated element concentrations from effluent during testing are well below the leachate quality criteria set by the local regulatory authority.
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Acknowledgments
Funds for this research were provided by the Ontario Power Generation and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, under Research Grant No. NRCR2625A07. Their support is greatly appreciated. The writers also wish to acknowledge the in kind contributions of Falconbridge Sudbury Mines, Golder Associates Ltd., and AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 18 • Issue 2 • April 2006
Pages: 140 - 151
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2005
Accepted: Jul 29, 2005
Published online: Apr 1, 2006
Published in print: Apr 2006
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Hilary I. Inyang
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