The Prediction of Acid Mine Drainage Potential Using Mineralogy

The generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) results from the oxidation of sulfide minerals due to exposure to air and water, a process heightened by mining activities. This chapter aims to enhance AMD potential assessment by incorporating mineralogical data along with traditional static geochemical tests. It emphasizes the role of mineralogy and geochemistry in developing prediction models for AMD, focusing on factors such as mineral acid generation and consumption potential, mineral abundance, and mineral liberation in process wastes. Mineral liberation, defined as the exposed mineral surface area available for reactions, is integrated into existing models to better predict AMD potential, particularly in gold and copper ore process residues. The newly developed models were evaluated against conventional geochemical testing results and scrutinized through two base metal sulfide (BMS) tailings analyses. The findings indicate that this predictive strategy not only improves process design but also aids in crafting more informed waste management approaches, thereby mitigating the negative impacts of AMD. Furthermore, this methodology offers a promising alternative to lengthy and expensive kinetic tests when applied to waste material evaluations.