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Confluence: March 2003, Vol. 5, No. 2
In Focus

Acid Mine Drainage
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is water that has been contaminated with high levels of iron, aluminum, and sulfuric acid. Contamination results from the disturbance of naturally occurring pyrite, which often occurs in the process of coal mining, as coal veins frequently accompany pyrite deposits. When pyrite is disturbed, it reacts with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide, which collects in area waters, often causing a telltale yellowish-orange color in the water. The consequences of AMD are widespread and severe, including death of fish and aquatic life due to high levels of acid and dissolved metals in the water and the poisoning of birds that drink from contaminated waters. Treatment methods include the application of alkaline chemicals to neutralize the acid effect, the installation of limestone drains and channels to treat acidic waterways, and the construction of wetlands to filter the water. Untreated water can remain an environmental hazard for centuries. For more information on AMD, visit these web links:

Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department of the Interior
http://www.osmre.gov

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – The Science of AMD
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bamr/amd/science_of_amd.htm

West Virginia University – Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
http://www.wvu.edu/~research/acidminedrainage.html

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