Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study

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dc.contributor.advisorBecker, Meganen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorBroadhurst, Jennifer Leeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDyantyi, Noluntuen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-03T10:34:20Z
dc.date.available2015-07-03T10:34:20Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe mining and beneficiation of gold generates large tonnages of waste, with up to 99% of mined gold ore discharged as waste. The waste generated contains unoxidized sulfides that when exposed to air and water react to form acid, which results in acid rock drainage (ARD). ARD is usually associated with low pH, high sulfate content and elevated concentrations of toxic elements. The mobility of ARD affects our scarce water resources, land and aquatic species. Methods applied to treat ARD do not provide a walk-away solution and they are either expensive or difficult to maintain. The best solution to completely eradicate ARD is to prevent it from the source. However, the effectiveness of ARD prevention depends on the accuracy of predicting future drainage quality. This can be done by using ARD prediction tests, which are generally classified as either static (acid base accounting, ABA, net acid generation, NAG) or kinetic (column leach, humidity cell, biokinetic test). There is no single test capable enough to accurately predict acid generating potential. It is therefore usual practise to conduct more than one test and cross-check results to ensure that the appropriate conclusions are made. In doing so, the reliability of the tests is improved but in some cases the different test results do not correlate. Mineralogy is an analytical technique that can be used to understand the nature of the errors and to better understand the leaching behaviour of minerals in the different tests. This study uses mineralogy to analyse both static and biokinetic test results of a Witwatersrand gold sample in order to improve the understanding of behaviour of mine wastes under different ARD prediction test conditions. A run-of-mine gold sample from the Witwatersrand region in South Africa was used as a case study to explore the mineral leaching behaviour for different ARD prediction tests.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDyantyi, N. (2014). <i>Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDyantyi, Noluntu. <i>"Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDyantyi, N. 2014. Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study. Thesis. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377en_ZA
dc.identifier.risTY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Dyantyi, Noluntu AB - The mining and beneficiation of gold generates large tonnages of waste, with up to 99% of mined gold ore discharged as waste. The waste generated contains unoxidized sulfides that when exposed to air and water react to form acid, which results in acid rock drainage (ARD). ARD is usually associated with low pH, high sulfate content and elevated concentrations of toxic elements. The mobility of ARD affects our scarce water resources, land and aquatic species. Methods applied to treat ARD do not provide a walk-away solution and they are either expensive or difficult to maintain. The best solution to completely eradicate ARD is to prevent it from the source. However, the effectiveness of ARD prevention depends on the accuracy of predicting future drainage quality. This can be done by using ARD prediction tests, which are generally classified as either static (acid base accounting, ABA, net acid generation, NAG) or kinetic (column leach, humidity cell, biokinetic test). There is no single test capable enough to accurately predict acid generating potential. It is therefore usual practise to conduct more than one test and cross-check results to ensure that the appropriate conclusions are made. In doing so, the reliability of the tests is improved but in some cases the different test results do not correlate. Mineralogy is an analytical technique that can be used to understand the nature of the errors and to better understand the leaching behaviour of minerals in the different tests. This study uses mineralogy to analyse both static and biokinetic test results of a Witwatersrand gold sample in order to improve the understanding of behaviour of mine wastes under different ARD prediction test conditions. A run-of-mine gold sample from the Witwatersrand region in South Africa was used as a case study to explore the mineral leaching behaviour for different ARD prediction tests. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study TI - Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377 ER -en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDyantyi N. Application of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case study. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment ,Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13377en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Bioprocess Engineering Researchen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectBioprocess Engineering
dc.titleApplication of mineralogy in the interpretation of laboratory scale acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction tests : a gold case studyen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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