Tim Danehy, BioMost, “AMD in the Bolivian Highlands”
52
AMD in the Bolivian Highlands Tim Danehy in cooperation with: Dr. Bill Strosnider & Kelsea Palmer, St. Francis University Margaret Dunn, Buck Neely, Ryan Mahony, Cliff Denholm, Shaun Bulser & Dan Guy
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Transcript of Tim Danehy, BioMost, “AMD in the Bolivian Highlands”
AMD in the Bolivian HighlandsTim Danehy in cooperation with:
Dr. Bill Strosnider & Kelsea Palmer, St. Francis UniversityMargaret Dunn, Buck Neely, Ryan Mahony,
Cliff Denholm, Shaun Bulser & Dan Guy
Overview
Overview
Mining In Bolivia Kumurana Valley
Phase I Phase II
Altitude Check
La Paz 12,000 ft (3,700 m)Diamox (Acetazolamide) is Awesome!
Mining In Bolivia
Cerro Rico
• 1532 Pizarro• 1545 Potosí• “Envy of Kings”– “Silver Train”– ~40,000 tonnes of Ag
• “Mountain that Eats Men”– 7-8 million deaths
Study Area
Results
History / Background
Methods
Results Conclusions
Typical Situation
Jayacmayu (mg/L)As 14Cd 5Fe
1100 Mn 85Ni 0.8Pb 3.3Zn
1500SO4 4000-
8000
pH 7.25534 μs/cm
pH 3.54870 μs/cm
pH 3.36 5070 μs/cm
3
4
5
6
7
8
9pH
020406080
100120140160180
Zn (m
g/L)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Pb (
mg/
L)
JMUT JM2 JM3 AD2 AD3 TP1 TP2 TP30
0.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.61.8
2
As (
mg/
L)
AMD
Dilu
tion
Taili
ngs D
ischa
rges
In-S
trea
m T
ailin
gs
Dilu
tion
6.5-8.5
5.0
0.015
0.01
Altitude Check
Altiplano 12,500 ft (3,800 m)
Overview
Mining In Bolivia Kumurana Valley
Phase I Phase II
The Problem: Muyu Khocha
Khomer Khocha
Laguna Santa Catalina
Rio Juckucha
Rio Juckucha Valley
Overview
Mining In Bolivia Kumurana Valley
Phase I Phase II
‘06 ‘10 ‘12 ‘14 ‘16 ‘18
Data collection
begun
Conceptshopped
Fundraisingbegun
Survey
Finaldesigns
Phase Ibegun
OLCscompleted
Phase IIdevelopment
Controlstructure
completed
ALDcompleted
‘08
Fundraisingbegun
Final design
Construction
OLCs
ALDAbandoned mine pH =5.4 ALD (pH= 7.3, 47 mg/L alkalinity)
Currently• ALD
– 135 tonnes– Oxidation pond dug
• Looking for clay
• OLCs– Quebrada Muyu Khocha
• 880 m• 1080 tonnes
– Quebrada Khomer Khocha• 720 m• 854 tonnes• Flow control structure complete
• Post-construction water quality monitoring begun
Obstacles Overcome
• Distance from limestone & manpower
Altitude Check
Kumarana Valley 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Obstacles Overcome
• Road blockades/strikes
Obstacles Overcome
• Government Control/Tolls
Obstacles Overcome
Hiccups…
Despite of the above… cont’d
• All limestone delivered– Government then private transport
Despite of the above… cont’d• Channels installed– Government, community, gringo-labor, private labor– Collaborative effort
Despite of the above… cont’d
• ALD completed
Overview
Mining In Bolivia Kumurana Valley
Phase I Phase II
Phase II: Passive Treatment
Site Assessment Survey/Design
Materials Construction
Site Assessment
Site Assessment
L. St. Catalina(mg/L)
pH 3.4 Al 8
Cu 1Fe 5Mn 4Pb 0.1Zn 33
Survey (by EIA)
www.engineersinaction.org
Survey (by EIA)
Survey/Design
Materials
Materials
Limestone Quarry
Limestone Quarry
Limestone Specifications
Construction
(example)
Construction
(example)
Construction
(example)
OU Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and WatershedsSFU Center for Watershed Research & Service• Norman Rotary Club• Universidad Autonoma de Tomas Frias• Empresa Minera Agricola Kumurana• Engineers in Action• Centro Investigacion Minero Ambiental• Japan International Cooperation Agency• Potosí Rotary Club• OU Sooners Without Borders• OU WaTER Center• Other Rotary Clubs
– Norman CrossTimbers, Norman Sooner, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Houston Space Center, Ardmore, Altus, Elk City
• Rotary Foundation• Cardinal Engineering• Penn State University College of Medicine• BioMost Inc.• Stream Restoration Incorporated
Thanks to the Coalition!
Shameless plug
www.engineersinaction.org
Rev. David Stephenson
