Cobalt and Cobalt Compounds That Release Cobalt Ions In Vivo
Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa - Amazon Web...
Transcript of Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa - Amazon Web...
As early as 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognised that “.....problems related to mining waste may be rated as second only to global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion in terms of ecological risk.
The release to the environment of mining waste can result in profound, generally irreversible destruction of ecosystems.”
If this is indeed so then the Witwatersrand gold mining area of South Africa is at serious risk. Reference:s CSIR. Briefing Note August 2009. Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa. Dr. Pat Manders. Director, Natural Resources and the Environment.European Environmental Bureau (EEB). 2000. The environmental performance of the mining industry and the action necessary to strengthen European legislation in the wake of the Tisza-Danube pollution. EEB Document no 2000/016 32 p
• The potential volume of AMD for the Witwatersrand Goldfield alone amounts to an estimated 350ML/day (1ML = 1000m3).
• This represents 10% of the potable water supplied daily by Rand Water to municipal authorities for urban distribution in Gauteng province and surrounding areas, at a cost of R3000/ML.
• The gold mining industry in South Africa (principally the Witwatersrand Goldfield) is in decline, but the post-closure decant of AMD is an enormous threat, and this could become worse if remedial activities are delayed or not implemented.Reference: CSIR. Briefing Note August 2009. Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa. Dr. Pat Manders. Director, Natural Resources and the Environment.
Reports• 1960
Final Report, Interdepartmental Committee on Dolomitic Mine Water: Far West Rand. DWAF.• 1963
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). “Commentary on the Final Report of the Interim Departmental Committee on Dolomitic Mine Water: Far West Rand”. 28.2.1963/10.2.1964.
• 1995Screening surveys of Radioactivity in the Mooi River Catchment by the Institute of Water Quality Studies of the DWAF.
• 1996Scientists predict West Rand Decant in 2002 and suggested a solution in “An Integrated Strategic Water Management Plan for the Gauteng Gold Mines”. The success of the proposed solution is dependent on the mines, water suppliers, water users and Government adopting an integrated approach – with Government taking the lead role. The Western Utility Corporation developed an alleged technical and economical viable solution, but at the time of writing, Government has not given its approval to this initiative. Government alleges that the polluter cannot be allowed to profit from its pollution.
• 1999Report, “Radioactivity Monitoring Programme in the Mooi River (Wonderfonteinspruit) Catchment”. Institute for Water Quality Studies. DWAF, April. Mining activities are a major contributor to uranium and uranium series radionuclides within the catchment. Concentrations decrease downstream of the sources, indicating removal from the dissolved fraction by interaction with sediments.
• 2002Publication of the “Radioactivity study on sediments in a dam on the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment.” Conducted by the Council for Geoscience and commissioned by the DWAF. Wade et al. (2002) (WRC).
• 2002Publication of the “Tier 1 Risk Assessment of Selected Radionuclides in Sediments of the Mooi River Catchment.” WRC Report 1095/1/02 by P. Wade. Radionuclides are concentrated in sediments downstream of their sources. Sequential extractions showed that these radionuclides are distributed in multiple phases within the sediments and that they may be remobilized by environmentally plausible chemical processes such as AMD.
• 2002Coetzee et al. (2002) of the Council for Geoscience reported on “Uranium and heavy metals in sediments in a dam on the farm Blaauwbank”. This study confirmed the findings of Wade et al and used further sequential extractions to characterize the sediments in a dam downstream of mining activities in the Carletonville area.
• 2005Publication, WRC on “Impacts of gold-mining activities on water availability and quality in the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment.” Mining-related impacts such as large-scale land degradation associated with DWAtering of karstic aquifers and widespread pollution of surface water and groundwater systems are discussed.
• 2005Publication Council for Geoscience, “Contamination of wetlands by Witwatersrand gold mines – processes and the economic potential of gold in wetlands” by H Coetzee et al , Report No. 2005-0106. For more than a century, the mines of the Witwatersrand have discharged contaminated water into the streams and rivers of the area, which led to the formation of a system of large wetlands. Concerns have been raised about their ability to cope with the pollutant loads flowing into wetlands.
• 2006Publication of “An Assessment of Sources, Pathways, Mechanisms and Risks of Current and Potential Future Pollution of Water and Sediments in Gold-Mining Areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment.” Report, WRC, H Coetzee et al, Council for Geosience. 2004. Report No 1214/1/06. This report eventually became the most important reason for POEA to be established.
• 2006Publication of “Impact of the discharge of Treated Mine Water, via the Tweelopies Spruit, on the receiving water body Crocodile River system, Mogale City, Gauteng Province”. DWAF, Report, 16/2/7/C221/C/24. 15.12.2006 by J Fourie et al.
• 2006“Dispersion of treated mine water from Harmony Gold Mine Estate into the Wonderfontein Spruit drainage system: Water quality. Vegetation and Bio-monitoring Status Report: Inclusive of water quality improvement potential”. D van der Walt.
• 2006“Archaeological Assessment: The Proposed Wonderfontein Spruit Treated Water Discharge Project.” Matakoma Heritage Consultants. 25 April.
• 2006“Geohydrological Review of the Potential Impact on the Sterkfontein Dolomite during Increased Surface Water Run-off.” J Fourie et al, April.
• 2006Report, Aquatic Biomonitoring and Toxicological Integrity of the Tweelopiespruit and the Upper Wonderfonteinspruit in Relation to the Decant of Mine Water from the Western Basin Mine Void. Winter Cycle 2005.” African Environmental Development. 17 July.
• 2006“Geohydrological Review of the Potential Impact on the Wonderfonteinspruit and Underlying Aquifers During Increased Surface Water Run-Off.” J Fourie et al, May.
• 2007Report, JS du Toit, (Acting Manager: Environmental Manager, Mogale City Municipality). “Background Report on Communities at Risk Within Mogale City Local Municipality Affected by Mining Related Activities, with Special Reference to Radiation & Toxicity.” September.
• 2007PJ Hobbs (CSIR), Report, “A Hydrogeological Assessment of Acid Mine Drainage Impacts in the West Rand Basin, Gauteng Province.” Report No. CSIR/NRE/WR/ER/ER/2007/009’s7/C.
• 2007Publication of the NNR Report – TR-RRD-07-0006 – “Radiological Impacts of the Mining Activities to the Public in the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area.” 12 July..
• 2007Publication of the “Status Report on the Actions Arising from the Study of Radiological Contamination of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (WCA)”. 29 October.
• 2008Publication of the “Situation Analysis of Hydrologic and Hydrogeologic Factors Informing the Royal Engineering Groundwater Supply on Sterkfontein 173iq, Krugersdorp. PJ Hobbs, Report prepared for the Western Basin Void Monitoring Sub-Group. Document Reference Number: CSIR/NRE/WR/ER/2008/0107/, July.
• 2009Publication of Draft Regional Mine Closure strategies for the West, Far West, Central and Eastern Rand Basins.
Witwatersrand Goldfields: Interconnection of mining basinsAcid Rock Drainage and
Mine DrainageLarge Salt Loads
Decanting of Flooded MinesPhysical Instability
Dust PollutionLand Use Conflicts with Growing Urban Centres
Radioactivity and Uranium
Mining Area
Witwatersrand Goldfields:
•Kosh
Basin•Free State Goldfields•Far West Rand •West Rand •Central Rand•Eastern Rand
Key Issues
•Interconnection of mining basins•Acid Rock Drainage and Mine Drainage•Large Salt Loads•Decanting of Flooded Mines•Physical Instability•Dust Pollution•Land Use Conflicts with Growing Urban Centres•Radioactivity (Contamination) and Uranium
WITWATERSRAND MINING BASIN*
• The Witwatersrand has been mined for more than a century. • It is the world’s largest gold and uranium mining basin with the
extraction, • from more than 120 mines, • of 43 500 tons of gold in one century and • 73 000 tons of uranium between 1953 and 1995. • The basin covers an area of 1600 km2, and • led to a legacy of some 400 km2 of mine tailings dams and • 6 billion tons of pyrite tailings containing low-grade uranium.
*
The Witwatersrand Mining Basin is composed of the Far East Basin, Central Rand Basin, Western Basin, Far Western Basin, KOSH and the Free State gold mines.
A Remote-Sensing and GIS-Based Integrated Approach for Risk Based Prioritization of Gold Tailings Facilities –
Witwatersrand, South Africa –
S. Chevrel
et al
•Tailings Dams contain 100 000 tons of U
•50 Tons of U discharged annually
•Seepage/Percolation: 24 tons U (1 000 to 1 million higher than the background U concentrations)
Technolgically
Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
•Point Discharges: 12 tons of U
•Stormwater: 10 tons of U
•Sinkholes: Secondary Sources of U contamination
• Waste from gold mines constitutes the largest single source of waste and pollution in South Africa and there is wide acceptance that Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is responsible for the most costly environmental and socio-economic impacts.
• As at 1997, South Africa produced an estimated 468 million tons of mineral waste per annum (DWAF, 2001).
• Gold mining waste was estimated to account for 221 million tons or 47
% of all mineral waste produced in South Africa,
making it the largest, single source of waste and pollution (DWAF, 2001).
• There are more than 270 tailings dams in the Witwatersrand Basin, covering approximately 400 km2 in surface area (AngloGold Ashanti, 2004).
• These dams are mostly unlined
and many are not vegetated, providing a source of extensive dust, as well as soil and water (surface and groundwater) pollution (AngloGold Ashanti 2004)
Witwatersrand GoldfieldsThe health effects of uranium particles inhaled:
•Small particles are carried by the inhaled air stream all the way into the alveoli. Here the particles can remain for
periods from weeks up to years depending on their solubility.
•Highly insoluble uranium compounds may remain in the alveoli, whereas soluble uranium compounds may dissolve
and pass across the alveolar membranes into the bloodstream, where they may exert systemic toxic
effects.
•In some cases, insoluble particles are absorbed into the body from the alveoli by phagocytosis
into the
associated lymph nodes.•“Insoluble”
particles may reside in the lungs for years,
i h i di t i it t b d i th l li
Witwatersrand GoldfieldsHousing Development (Retirement Village) on Mined Land, within 500m buffer zone of
tailings dam
AMBERFIELD LIFESTYLE ESTATE Congratulations! You have just invested in the West Rand's premier Lifestyle Estate. Every effort has been made to provide you with the services, facilities and care expected of such a prestige development, and as such due diligence has gone into…
Heavy Metal Contamination
"The mean values for the Wonderfonteinspruit
samples were found to exceed not only natural background concentrations, but also levels of regulatory concern for cobalt, zinc, arsenic,
cadmium and uranium, with uranium and cadmium exhibiting the highest risk coefficients.”
COLOUR CODING SYSTEM USED FOR TIER 1 RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk quotient Colour Explanation
<0.5 Quotients in this range are unlikely to represent any environmental risk.
0.5-2 Quotients in this range may represent a risk, allowing for analytical and other uncertainties.
>2 Quotients in this range will represent an environmental risk
RADIOLOGICAL RISKS
The measured uranium content of many of the fluvial sediments in
the Wonderfonteinspruit, including those off mine properties and therefore outside the boundaries of licensed sites, exceeds the exclusion limit for regulation by the National Nuclear Regulator.
For approximately 50% of the 47 sampling sites, the calculated incremental doses of the respective critical group are above 1 mSv
per annum up to 100 mSv
pa (548 mSv
pa Blyvooruitzicht
Mine/Bridge Carletonville)
The radioactive contamination of surface water bodies in the Wonderfonteinspruit
catchment
area caused by the long-lasting mine
water discharges and diffuse emissions of seepage and runoff from slimes dams poses radiological risks to the public resulting from the usage of polluted environmental media;
The pathway sediment→SPM
→cattle→milk/meat→person
(“SeCa”) can cause radioactive contamination of livestock products (milk, meat)
resulting in effective doses of the public in some orders of magnitude above
those
resulting
via
the
pathway
“WaCa
Draft Regional Closure Strategy For The Far West Rand Goldfield
•An airborne radiometric survey of the WR and FWR was done for DWAF
•Interpretation of the data show many of the residential areas (Carletonville, Westonarea, Khutsong, Kagiso, Randfontein) fall within areas of high risk of radioactivity contamination.
STATUS REPORT ON THE ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE STUDY OF
RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF THE WONDERFONTEINSPRUIT CATCHMENT AREA
(WCA)
The study undertaken by the NNR has confirmed the presence of radioactive contamination in the WCA.
Preliminary results of analyses conducted on produce grown in the area have indicated that the dose levels are of radiological concern to the regulator.
The study has also highlighted the need for all the regulators to work closely together since the contamination includes non radiological contaminants such as heavy metals and salts.
“The most important lesson learnt from the studies in the
Wonderfonteinspruit is that no short-cuts exist which would allow certain pathways to be ignored in a study of radioactive contamination
within these mining areas.”.
At present the U and other heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic and cobalt are adsorbed in the sediment. Plausible environmental conditions such:
•Acid mine drainage
•Acid rain
•Drying out of the sediment and influx of water
•Dredging operations
•Tailings spillages
•Turbulence caused by cattle drinking the water or children playing in the water can cause the mobilization or transport of uranium in the Wonderfonteinspruit.
Central Basin60 Mega Litres
The central basin is currently flooding at 0.9 meter per day (60 ML per day) with no means of intercepting the water prior to reaching surface which will contaminate all ground water and decant on surface in a densely populated area (Boksburg) at three times the rate of the Western Basin.
Photo: Courtesy Prof. McCarthy
West Rand goldfields
Decanting Volumes: Currently between 18 and 36 ML/per day
An unqualified volume still escapes downstreamNorth and south (intercontinental water divide)
Environmental critical level not absolute decant management solution
Dolomitic
Outlier not a low permeability barrier: faults and fracturesPhoto: Courtesy Henk Coetzee
Chronological Analysis of AMD: West Rand• 1996: SWaMP Report• 2002: Decant• 2002 -2005: Uncontrolled Decant• 2005 – 2009: Partial Treatment• 2009 – Western Utility Corporation (WUC)
Proposal• 21 January 2010 – Uncontrolled Decant• 18 March 2010 - R6.9 (lime treatment)• May 2010 – Revised Directive • 1 July 2010 – Discharge Untreated AMD
DECANTIn 2002 in the Krugersdorp-Randfontein
area water has
started to decant from a number of shafts into the Tweelopiespruit
and the Wonderfonteinspruit. The water has
a pH of 2.2 (the normal pH is 7.3).
The combination of the pH and redox
driven reactions resulted in a measured uranium concentration of 16mg/l of the Robinson Lake, and resulted in the NNR declaring the
lake a radiation area.
The background U concentration in water is 0,0004mg/l.
In terms of the DWAF regulations for drinking water, the U concentration should not exceed 0.07mg/l and for irrigation,
0.01mg/l.
Distilled WaterDistilled Water
Orange JuiceOrange Juice
VinegarVinegar
Lemon JuiceLemon Juice
Baking SodaBaking Soda
AmmoniaAmmonia
BleachBleach
Battery AcidBattery Acid
1414
1212
1111
1010
99
88
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
00
1313A
lkal
ine
Aci
d
pH (Logarithmic)
DWAF GuidelinesDWAF Guidelines
Drin
king
Wat
erD
rinki
ng W
ater
6.06.0--9.09.0
Irrig
atio
nIrr
igat
ion
6.56.5--8.48.4
Aqu
atic
Eco
syst
emA
quat
ic E
cosy
stem
(Site
Spe
cific
)(S
ite S
peci
fic)
7.07.0--8.08.0
Typi
cal W
its A
cid
Min
e D
rain
age
Typi
cal W
its A
cid
Min
e D
rain
age
2.52.5--44
Robinson Lake pH 2.6
U concentration of 16 mg/l; resulted in the NNR declaring the lake a
radiation area
Volumes and loads 2005 - Jan. 2010
• Polluted water is discharged into a receiving environment– Volume = ~25Ml/d– Salt content = ~4g/l– Salt load = ~100 tons per da
Photo: Courtesy Dr. Henk Coetzee
20t 20t 20t 20t 20t
In April 2009 the mine void water, containing sulfuric acid will have been flowing into the Zwartkrans compartment for 8 years – the corresponding void in the dolomite that has formed so far amounts to a staggering 16 700 m3
AAAfricanfrican
EEnvironmentalnvironmental
DDevelopmentevelopment
Acid Mine Drainage
•Waste from gold mines constitutes the largest single source of waste and pollution in South Africa.•Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is responsible for the most costly environmental and socio-economic impacts. •Production of AMD may continue for many years after mines are closed and tailings dams decommissioned.•AMD is not only associated with surface and groundwater pollution, degradation of soil quality, for harming aquatic sediments and fauna, and for allowing heavy metals to seep into the environment.
Acid Mine Drainage•Long-term exposure to AMD polluted drinking water may lead to increased rates of cancer, decreased cognitive function and appearance of skin lesions.
•Heavy metals in drinking water could compromise the neural development of the fetus which can result in mental retardation.
•If indeed the extent of “… problems related to mining waste may be rated as second only to global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion in terms of ecological risk” (EEB, 2000), then the Witwatersrand gold mining area of South Africa is at serious risk.
Uranium Pollution of Water resources in Mined-Out and Active Goldfields of South Africa –
A Case Study in the
Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment on Extent and Sources of U-
Contamination and Associated Health Risks
Prof.Dr. Frank Winde• “Results indicate that U-levels
in water resources of the whole
catchment increased markedly since 1997 even though U- loads emitted by some large gold mines in the Far West Rand were reduced. This apparent contradiction is explained by the contribution of highly polluted water decanting from the flooded mine void in the West Rand.
• “800kg of U per year flowing into Boskop Dam as Potchefstroom’s main water reservoir
• “Of particular concern is the fact that U-levels in the WFS are comparable to those detected in the Northern Cape which had been geostatistically linked to abonormal haematological values related to increased incidences of leukaemia observed in residents of the area”.
– Even though a large number of the world’s rivers are contaminated by heavy metals released from present day and historic mining operations, relatively little is known about the effects on communities that live beside and rely on these rivers for food and livelihood. One of the complications is that the toxicity of many metals is a function of such conditions as redox, pH and water hardness.
– Elevated salts and metals can also negatively affect the health of animals in many different ways, depending on the species, age, sensitivity, general health and diet of the consumer, among other factors.
– Some metals, when consumed in excess, can affect organs and the central nervous system, cause reproductive failure or birth defects, and
act as cofactors in many other diseases.
– Certain receptors may be more sensitive than others, depending upon species, age, sex, season, body mass, metabolic rate, general health, diet, behaviour, etc, with younger animals and children being generally more at risk than adults under the same conditions of exposure (WHO).
– The potential for trans-generational (genetic) impacts of bioaccumulated metals and NORMs
(Naturally Occurring Radiactive Materials) on biota exposed above certain thresh-holds.
– The probability that such latent impacts will only be identified
and assessed over the next 100 to 500 years.
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
2006
/08/
15
2006
/10/
15
2006
/12/
15
2007
/02/
15
2007
/04/
15
2007
/06/
15
2007
/08/
15
2007
/10/
15
2007
/12/
15
2008
/02/
15
2008
/04/
15
2008
/06/
15
2008
/08/
15
2008
/10/
15
2008
/12/
15
2009
/02/
15
2009
/04/
15
2009
/06/
15
2009
/08/
15
2009
/10/
15
2009
/12/
15
2010
/02/
15
2010
/04/
15
Inflow into Game ReserveFlow Rate Ml/DAY
2006 - 2010
Inflow into Game Reserve V1C
Aviary
No Flow
Inlet to Game ReserveWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
pH Units
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
pH @ 25ºCDirective 9.5Directive 6.5
Aviary Dam Game Reserve OutletWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
pH Units
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
pH @ 25ºCDirective 9.5Directive 6.5
Inlet to Game ReserveWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
Conductivity mS/m
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
Conductivity mS/m@ 25ºC
Directive
Aviary Dam Game Reserve OutletWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
Conductivity mS/m
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
Conductivity mS/m@ 25ºC
Directive
Inlet to Game ReserveWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
Sulphate mg/l
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
Sulphate mg/l
Aviary Dam Game Reserve OutletWeekly Oct 2007-May 2010
Sulphate mg/ l
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
17-O
ct-0
717
-Nov
-07
17-D
ec-0
717
-Jan
-08
17-F
eb-0
817
-Mar
-08
17-A
pr-0
817
-May
-08
17-J
un-0
817
-Jul
-08
17-A
ug-0
817
-Sep
-08
17-O
ct-0
817
-Nov
-08
17-D
ec-0
817
-Jan
-09
17-F
eb-0
917
-Mar
-09
17-A
pr-0
917
-May
-09
17-J
un-0
917
-Jul
-09
17-A
ug-0
917
-Sep
-09
17-O
ct-0
917
-Nov
-09
17-D
ec-0
917
-Jan
-10
17-F
eb-1
017
-Mar
-10
17-A
pr-1
017
-May
-10
Sulphate mg/l
Inlet to Game ReserveUranium ppb
Weekly Oct 2007 – Apr 2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
8-O
ct-0
78-
Nov
-07
8-D
ec-0
78-
Jan-
088-
Feb-
088-
Mar
-08
8-A
pr-0
88-
May
-08
8-Ju
n-08
8-Ju
l-08
8-A
ug-0
88-
Sep-
088-
Oct
-08
8-N
ov-0
88-
Dec
-08
8-Ja
n-09
8-Fe
b-09
8-M
ar-0
98-
Apr
-09
8-M
ay-0
98-
Jun-
098-
Jul-0
98-
Aug
-09
8-Se
p-09
8-O
ct-0
98-
Nov
-09
8-D
ec-0
98-
Jan-
108-
Feb-
108-
Mar
-10
8-A
pr-1
08-
May
-10
Uranium ppb
Domestic Guideline 70 ppb
Directive
Aviary DamWeekly Oct 2007 – Apr 2010
Uranium ppb
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
8-O
ct-0
78-
Nov
-07
8-D
ec-0
78-
Jan-
088-
Feb-
088-
Mar
-08
8-A
pr-0
88-
May
-08
8-Ju
n-08
8-Ju
l-08
8-A
ug-0
88-
Sep-
088-
Oct
-08
8-N
ov-0
88-
Dec
-08
8-Ja
n-09
8-Fe
b-09
8-M
ar-0
98-
Apr
-09
8-M
ay-0
98-
Jun-
098-
Jul-0
98-
Aug
-09
8-Se
p-09
8-O
ct-0
98-
Nov
-09
8-D
ec-0
98-
Jan-
108-
Feb-
108-
Mar
-10
8-A
pr-1
08-
May
-10
Uranium ppb
Domestic Guideline 70 ppb
Directive
Mine Water Dissolved Iron Concentrations vs. pH into TweelopiesWeekly mg/L
Feb 09 – May 10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
02-F
eb-0
9
23-F
eb-0
9
16-M
ar-0
9
06-A
pr-0
9
27-A
pr-0
9
18-M
a y-0
9
08-J
un-0
9
29-J
un-0
9
20-J
ul-0
9
10-A
ug-0
9
31-A
ug-0
9
21-S
ep-0
9
12-O
ct-0
9
02-N
ov-0
9
23-N
ov-0
9
14-D
ec-0
9
04-J
an-1
0
25-J
an-1
0
15-F
eb-1
0
08-M
ar-1
0
29-M
ar-1
0
19-A
pr-1
0
10-M
ay-1
0
pHFe
Fe
pH
Fe Directive
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2007
/10/
1720
07/1
1/17
2007
/12/
1720
08/0
1/17
2008
/02/
1720
08/0
3/17
2008
/04/
1720
08/0
5/17
2008
/06/
1720
08/0
7/17
2008
/08/
1720
08/0
9/17
2008
/10/
1720
08/1
1/17
2008
/12/
1720
09/0
1/17
2009
/02/
1720
09/0
3/17
2009
/04/
1720
09/0
5/17
2009
/06/
1720
09/0
7/17
2009
/08/
1720
09/0
9/17
2009
/10/
1720
09/1
1/17
2009
/12/
1720
10/0
1/17
2010
/02/
1720
10/0
3/17
2010
/04/
17
V 1Entry into Game Reserve-Manganese
Monthly Oct 2007- Apr 2010
Mn (Dissolved) mg/l
Directive
Directive – May 2010
Suitable for:Conductivity - Unacceptable DomesticSulphate (SO42~) (mg/L) - NothingManganese (Mn) (mg/L) - NothingIron (Fe) (mg/L) - Unacceptable Domestic +
Livestock watering
• Latent impacts may take decades, or even centuries, to manifest themselves.
• Inherent water quality risks• Gold mine ore bodies – associated with radionuclides• Hydrological interconnections between mines – cannot
be considered in isolation• Tailings dams and waste rock dumps can never be
maintained in completely reducing environment - water risk ad infinitum
• Long term risk re formation of sinkholes
CLOSURE RISKS AND LIABILITIES