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Mineralogical, numerical and analytical studies of the coupled oxidation of pyrite and coal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

K. A. Evans ,
C. J. Gandy  and
S. A. Banwart
K. A. Evans*
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin St, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
C. J. Gandy
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Geosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
S. A. Banwart
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin St, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
*
E-mail: katy.evans@csiro.au
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Abstract

Mineralogical, bulk and field leachate compositions are used to identify important processes governing the evolution of discharges from a coal spoil heap in County Durham. These processes are incorporated into a numerical one-dimensional advective-kinetic reactive transport model which reproduces field results, including gas compositions, to within an order of magnitude. Variation of input parameters allows the effects of incorrect initial assumptions on elemental profiles and discharge chemistry to be assessed. Analytical expressions for widths and speeds of kinetic reaction fronts are developed and used to predict long-term development of mineralogical distribution within the heap. Results are consistent with observations from the field site. Pyrite oxidation is expected to dominate O2 consumption in spoil heaps on the decadal timescale, although C oxidation may stabilize contaminants in effluents on the centennial scale.

Keywords

reactive transport modellingredoxpyrite dissolutionacid mine drainageweathering.
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 67 , Issue 2 , April 2003 , pp. 381 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2003

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Footnotes

†

Present address: CSIRO Exploration and Mining, Box 312, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia

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