Comparision of predicted acidic drainage potential to field water quality at a low sulphur coal mine

摘要

A detailed assessment of acid rock drainage (ARD) protential was conducted at the Quintette Coal Mine site in northeastern British Columbia. The site is unusual in that the coal seams contain low sulphur levels as compared to eastern coals (typically less than 0.5 percent), and the non-coal wastes generally do not to have the potential to generate acid on the basis of static ABA tests. The presence of small iron-stained seeps on the pit walls indicate localized sulphide oxidation, while the overall mine site drainage has remained of excellent quality with extremely low levels of metals after approximately 15 years of mining. Thus the site provides an excellent comparison to more problematic coal mine sites.