The Whitehill Formation as a natural geochemical analogue to the Witwatersrand Basin’s mine water issues, South Africa

Mining activities within the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, have led to many studies, particularly focusing on the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the basin and the associated environmental effects. This study assesses whether gypsum in the Whitehill Formation is connected to acid rock...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-04, Vol.29 (18), p.27195-27208
Main Authors: Mashishi, Dikeledi Tryphina, Wolkersdorfer, Christian, Coetzee, Henk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid mine drainage
Aquatic Pollution
Aquifers
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Basins
Carbonaceous rocks
Dolomite
Drainage basins
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental effects
Environmental Health
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental science
Experiments
Freshwater resources
Geochemistry
Gypsum
Laboratories
Metals
Mine drainage
Mine waters
Mineral composition
Minerals - analysis
Mining
Modal analysis
Pyrite
Research Article
Rocks
Shale
South Africa
Waste Water Technology
Water - chemistry
Water Management
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:Mining activities within the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, have led to many studies, particularly focusing on the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the basin and the associated environmental effects. This study assesses whether gypsum in the Whitehill Formation is connected to acid rock drainage (ARD) resulting from reactions between the pyrite-bearing shale and carbonaceous rocks. To investigate this, the geochemical, geological and palaeoclimatic settings were investigated and a laboratory experiment with Whitehill Formation rock samples was conducted. XRF data of the rocks and modal analysis were used to determine the mineral composition of the Whitehill Formation. In addition, pH-redox equilibrium ( Phreeqc ) modelling was used for simulations. The results of this study show that metals precipitated from the water–rock solution form various mineral phases like those of the Witwatersrand Basin. Large-scale dolomite dissolution might not be expected. Graphical abstract
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-17699-6