Environmental evaluation, characterization, final reclamation design, and acid mine drainage analysis for the Friar Tuck abandoned coal mine site, southwestern Indiana
Abstract
Friar Tuck, an Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) site, is located on the Greene-Sullivan county line in southwest Indiana. Prior to the on-going reclamation related to this study, Friar Tuck was one of Indiana's largest and most environmentally adverse abandoned mine lands. The 1,400 acre site included 560 acres of spoil piles, 160 acres of tailings and 80 acres of gob or coarse refuse. The purposes of this research were to conduct engineering geology and hydrogeology investigations, characterize the materials, evaluate environmental concerns, and accomplish reclamation of the Friar Tuck site. This study also included evaluation of several techniques used to abate acid formation and control acid mine drainage (AMD) from coal refuse piles. A new method for treatment of AMD using apatite was tested in the laboratory and field. Apatite effectively removed iron, aluminum and sulfate while maintaining an almost constant pH. Apparently, this method can be applied to control AMD from mining refuse materials, even those containing high concentrations of iron and aluminum ions. Future research on the reaction between AMD and apatite is recommended to define the mechanism of precipitation and constituents of the precipitates in order to optimize the design of the AMD treatment system.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
West, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Hydrology|Environmental science|Geotechnology|Mining
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