TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF ACID MINE WATER CONTROL

ON THE OPERATION OF BATU HIJAU GOLD MINE

BY NEWMONT NUSA TENGGARA CORPORATION

THESIS PROPOSAL

Written by:
RONGGO SHULISTYORAHADI
96.030/TA

MINING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MINERAL TECHNOLOGY FACULTY
PEMBANGUNAN NASIONAL VETERAN UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2001

A. TITLE
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF ACID MINE WATER CONTROL ON THE
OPERATION OF BATU HIJAU GOLD MINE BY NEWMONT NUSA
TENGGARA CORPORATION
B. THE REASON OF TITLE SELECTION
Mining operation almost generally has negative effects and one of the actual
effects is about Acid Mine Water.
If Acid Mine Water carried on an unaccurate way so at the end of the
operation will cause such enviromental polution. The Acid Mine Water contains of
solute metal which will reduce soil fertility, corrosion on the tools and probably
several health problems to the civilian surrounding mine area.
One possibility way to reduce Acid Mine Water is controlling waste material
as well as possible.
C. OBJECTIVES OF THE OBSERVATION
This operation has an object to obtain several input data that is related to
process of Acid Mine Water. Then, the input data will be able to be processed in
certain ways to result one good conclusion.
D. IDENTIFICATION AND APPROACHMENT TO THE PROBLEM
Acid Mine Water is a kind of run-off water which has came up from mine
area and has characteristic of acid and contains of solute material compounds, as a
result from oxidation process on the exposed rock to the air. Generally, the process of
oxidation depends on three main reactan : water, oxygen, and rock material.
Acid Mine Water that has came up from overburden piles and tailing
processing unit has an ability or possibility to come up negative effects to the
environment, especially to the water sources.
Approachment to the problem will be done by collecting data which can be
gained from the observation in the field. To support and provide this thesis then the
writter also combine between theory and the facts in the field so the best
approachment will be useful to solve the problem.

E. THEORY
1. Process of Acid Mine Water.
Acid Mine Water is acid water and contains of solute metal compounds,
especially Fe and sulphide compounds, formed succesfully because of rocks strata
containing minerals such phyrite, marcasite, chalcophyrite that were exposed to the
open air. Generally, the process is based on three main reactan. Those are water,
oxygen, and rock materials. Those rocks were exposed to the surface land as a result
of land opening, rock breaking when the mining operation was continuing. Then
followed by oxidation process, resulting oxide compounds and if these have a contact
directly to the water (either come from water rainfall or mine water) will form
Fe2SO4 or H2SO4.
Unless we neutralize the water then the acid water will flow to the
surrounding area. The oxidation

process, unexpectedly, often fasten by

microbiological activities. Several species of the bacteries found in the tailing water
are : Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Ferrobacillus
ferroxidans.
We can describe the oxidation process of sulphides minerals which causing
water acidity with three reaction :
a. Fe S2 + 72 O2 + H2O

Fe2+ + 2SO42- + 2H+

b. Fe 2+ + 14O2 + H+

Fe3+ + 1/2 H2O

c. Fe 3+ + 3H2O

Fe(OH)3 + 3H+

d. FeS2 + 15/4 O2 + 7/2 H2O

2H2SO4 + Fe (OH)3

and the reaction equation of Acid Mine Water which are based on biological
activities are :

Fe2+ + 2SO42- + 2H+

FeS2 + H2O + 7/2 O2

Fe+2 + 1/4 O2 + 5/2 H2O

T. Ferroxidans

FeS2 + 7/2 H2O + 15/4 O2

Fe (OH)3 + 2H+

Fe (OH)3

+ 2H2SO4

From the equation reaction above, we can analyze how the H2SO4 is finally
formed. So with the existence of H 2SO4 will cause water flow has characteristic of
acid and that is what we call Acid Mine Water. Acid water is known as pink or red
from its colour and it came up from Ferri Hidroxide on the bottom of the water flow
and we will be able to recognize it from its sulphuric smell. However, it does not
always happen because some time, we even recognize Acid Mine Water has clean
appearance.
Several condition are provided to Acid Mine Water forming. Those are :
a). Such sufficient sulphide compounds contents in Acid Mine Water and enable to
react both chemically and biologically, generate acid leachate which have reaction
velocity of acid forming faster than reaction velocity of neutralization by alkali
compounds, inside the tailing.
b). This spesific physical characteristics has allow the water and oxygen to infiltrate,
and resulting acid tailing reaction, both chemically and biologically.
c). The condition of mine area with sufficient humidity will cause some water rainfall
infiltration on tailing pile, then the exist tailing will flow to the surrounding area.
2. The Acid Mine Water Sources.
The Acid Mine Water, also called Acid Rock Water, has happened as a result
from several complex chemically and phisically process, including several factors in
the mining operation whether it came from surface mining or underground mining.
Commonly, this situation happened because sulphuric minerals inside the rocks were

oxidized naturally when the mine development was continuing. And then, provided
with enviromental humidity condition finally will cause sulphuric oxide become
acid.
The Acid Mine Water sources originated from several activities below :
a). Mining
Water from underground mine
For this kind of Acid Mine Water, it is easier to make an identification which has
characteristic of low pH. It will affect to mining tools with the existence of any
corrosion and become special problems on its operation.
Water from surface mine
The final consequence of stripping overburden is exposed rock strata so that
sulphur contents inside the sulphidize rock will be able to be oxidized and if it
reacts with water then finally will form Acid Mine Water.
b). Water From Waste Rock Processing Unit
The most uncounted waste as a results of mining operation are waste rock. The
number of waste rock increase attend by the increasing of mining activities.
Finally, the abundant waste rock which containing sulphuric compounds will have
more directly contact with open/free air and resulting sulphur oxide compound.
c). Water From Ore Stockpile
The water from this location is the main sources of Acid Mine Water.
d). Water From Tailing Process Unit
Usually, tailing settling pond has low permeability and always filled in with water
contains of tailing from mine area and processing unit. The water has
characteristic of quite high pH because of CaCO 3 addition in order to neutralize
acid water. The acid water maybe do the infiltration outside the settling pond then
causing some acid tailing.
3. Identification of Acid Mine Water Potency
Both of existing mine operation or planned operation, it is necessary to have
several test on waste characteristics in order to predict the possibility of Acid Mine
Water.
The objectives of identification Acid Mine Water potency are :

a. Planning on Acid Mine Water preventing system, including reclamation planning

on dumping acid materials, reclamation on mined out area and planning on mine
drainage area.
b. Planning on Acid Mine Water management system, including drainage structure
design, settling pond design and water treatment system.
c. Planning the alternative management, phisically, such Acid Mine Water recycle
and another advantages.
The first accurate prediction of tailing characteristics which has potency to
cause Acid Mine Water will be useful to reduce enviromental damages and even on
its management and operational costs.
Based on several procedures of exist Acid Mine Water forming, there are four
(4) statistic test, five (5) kinetic test and the others are test which have a goal to
obtain some information related to natural characteristics of materials whether it is
phyrite rock or carbonaceous rock.
The difference between ability to neutralize (Neutralize Potential = NP) and
ability to form such acid (Acid Potential = AP) then called as Net Neutralization
Potential (NNP). And it has negative symbol. The Net Neutralization Potential
describes potential sources from Acid Mine Water.
The calculation of rock ability to result Net Acid Producing Potential (NAPP)
is a method used to identify the acidity of rock. From those calculation, we can
determine whether the rock have an ability to result acid condition or not.
These are some principles to calculate NAPP :

Using a simple method to determine ability value to result acid from rock sample.

Acid Producing Potential (APP)

By determining sulphur contents using leco furnace method.

Acid Neutralizing Capacity (ANC)

By measuring degree of soluble metal of Ca, Mg, Mn in acid solution, with the
assumption that those metals seem to be exist as carbonate and the Acid
Neutralizing Capacity is equalized as CaCO3.

Finally, the NAPP is calculated by reducing the potency of acid forming with
Acid Neutralizing Capacity.

We can use the calculation to determine ANC and APP as seen down below :
(1). ANC Determination
Transforming % Ca, Mg, and Mn into CaCO3, based on calculation below :

% Ca x Mr CaCO3/Ar Ca = % Ca x 100,09/40,08 = % Ca x 2,497 ..(1)

% Mg x Mr CaCO3/Ar Mg = % Mg x 100,09/24,32 = % Mg x 4,116 ..(2)

% Mn x Mr CaCO3/Ar Mn = % Mn x 100,09/54,94 = % Mn x 1,822...(3)

Total ANC (as CaCO3) = (%Ca x 2,497) + (%Mg x 4,116) +

(%Mn x 1,822 )

(2). APP Determination

Potency to result acid is :
= % S x H2SO4 / 5 x CaCO3 / H2SO4
= % S x CaCO3 / 5
= % S x 3,122 ..(4)
(3). NAPP Determination
Since the data of rock sample analysis have been accepted, then those will be put
into equation (1(, (2), (3), and (4). So at the end :
NAPP = APP ANC
If the output shows positive value, then the rock is classified into acid (PAF) and
if it shows negative, it will be classified into non-acid rock (NAF).
4. pH Solution and Acid Neutralization
a. pH Solution
There is a simple way to determine solution acidity by using pH and pOH. It
will show the number of H+ ion and OH- ion inside the solution.
pH = - log (H+)

pOH = - log (OH-)

in the pure water, H+ and OH- concentration is equal, that is10-7, so that :
pH

= -log (H+)

= -log 10-7 = 7

pOH = -log (OH-) = -log 10-7 = 7

if pH < 7 = acid solution
if pH = 7 = neutral solution
if pH > 7 = base solution
So the lower its pH become then the solution will have characteristic of acid.

The relation between pH and pOH :

PH + pOH = 14
Lakmus universal indicator is a media used to indicate whether the water is
acid or base. We can recognize it from the transformation of the colour.
b. Acid Neutralization
Neutralization process is necessary to control Acid Mine Water. The process
by using alkali material (in this case generally has a form of FeS 2) will be
raised its pH. So, the process need alkali or carbonaceous material to raise the
pH such :
-

limestone (CaCO3)

dolomite (MgCO3)

mangan carbonate (MnCO3)

quicklame (CaO)

dry hydrate

ash coal

Below are the chemical reaction of acid water neutralization and chemical
reaction with another alkali or carbonaceous material :

a)

FeS2 + 7/2 H2O + 15/4 O2 + CaCO3

2Ca+

Fe (OH)3 + 2SO4-2 + 2H2CO3 +

CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O

b)

MgCO3 + H2SO4

MgSO4 + CO2 + H2O

c)

Mn CO3 + H2SO4

MnSO4 + CO2 + H2O

d)

CaO + H2SO4

CaSO4 + H2O

e)

Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4

CaSO4 + 2H2O

f)

NaCO3 + H2SO4

NaSO4 + CO0 + H2O

g)

2NaOH + H2SO4

Na2SO4 + 2H2O

5. Control Of Acid Mine Water

Commonly the control of Acid Mine Water is divided into :
a. Prevention
Prevention has goals to prevent or reduce degree of acid forming by retaining
sulphide oxidation. The main element in the process of acid forming are :

Rock or soil which has sulphide contents.

Oxygen

Water

Overcoming acid forming could be done by reducing at least one or more

elements of acid forming so that exist acid stay on a safe level.
Several prevention act, those are :
(1). Isolation of sulphide mineral
by separating materials contain of sulphide mineral from water and or
free air, it will retain from oxidation process.
(2). Control of water flow

Preventing from infiltration of the surface water flow into acid

material

Preventing from infiltration of the rainfall water on acid material

Preventing from infiltration of the underground water flow on acid

material location

b. Control of acid water migration

The main reason of control acid water migration is preventing dissemination
of acid water flow. By doing several action such :

Development of drainage system alongside location acid water flow

Installation of drainage pipe system under location material pile

c. Acid water neutralization

Settling pond is a media used to catch acid water. This media has a function
as a supervision tool in order to supervise the water quality, and also used as a
media to neutralize acid water before it will be released into the environment.

F. SURVEY METHODOLOGY
1. Data Acquisition
It is a part of step of the survey which has certainly goal to collect data from
many sources related to this topic and will be use to complete the thesis. Those
data are :
a. Acid Mine Water management method
b. Water content inside material
c. Specification and dimension of tailing settling pond
d. Sulphuric mineral due to Acid Mine Water forming
e. Waste yield
f. Pure water quality (pH)
g. Mining method
h. Complementary data, consist of :
-

regional geological data and geology history

lithology data, topography and water rainfall

geology map

condition and surrounding environment

2. Step of the survey

a. literatur study
b. survey on the field
c. data acquisition
(see sub chapter F no. 1)
d. data processing
data processing consist of some calculation and description. It is continued
by presentation of tables, graphics or serial calculation to solve certain
process.
e. analysis
The data will be processed in order to obtain hypothesis and then the
hypothesis will be followed by another processing and talked on
discussion chapter.
f. conclusion

The conclusion will be obtained after doing correlation between data

processing and observed problem. This will be final result from all aspect
that has been discussed before.
G. ADVANTAGES
Base on final result from the survey, we hope that identification potency of exist
Acid Mine Water might be recognized earlier so that preventing action can be
prepared as soon as possible. Else, the first accurate control of Acid Mine Water will
give Newmont Nusa Tenggara Corporation an opportunity to do its enviromental
eligible operation with low cost.
On the other effect, it supports the company to achieve optimal production target
because heavy machinery can work optimally without any problem cause of any
corrosion or damage.
H. TIME SCHEDULE
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Activity
Literatur Study
Field Introductary
Data Acquisition
Data Processing
Draft

I. CONTENTS
SUMMARY
PREFACE
FIGURE LIST
TABLE LIST
ADDITIONAL LIST
I.

INTRODUCTARY
A. Background
B. Objectives
C. Problems
D. Survey Methodology
E. Result

Time ( Week )

II. GENERAL PREVIEW

A. Geography
B. Geology
C. Mining Operation
D. Processing
E. Drainage
F. Enviromental Effect
III. THEORY
A.
B.
C.
D.

Process Of Acid Mine Water

Acid Mine Water Sources
Control Of Acid Mine Water
Prevention Of Acid Mine Water Forming On Waste Dump

IV. ANALYSIS OF ACID MINE WATER ON THE FIELD

A.Water From Waste Rock Processing Unit
B. Water From Ore Stockpile
C. Water From Tailing Processing Unit
V. DISCUSSION
A. Preventing Action From Acid Mine Water
B. Management Of Acid Mine Water
C. Control Of Acid Mine Water On Tailing Settling Pond
D. Preventing Action From Negative Effect On Tailing Settling Pond
VI. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion
B. Suggestion
REFERENCIES
ADDITIONAL

J. REFERENCIES
1. C.G Down, PhD. And J. Stocts B.DS., Enviromental Impact of Mining, ARSM.,
C.Eng., Departement of Resources Engineering Royal School of Mines,
London.

2. F. Gunawan Suratno. 1993, Analisis Dampak Lingkungan. Yogyakarta Gadjah

Mada University Press.
3. Ir. Hadiyah, MT, Air Asam Tambang, Dosen Pengajar Jurusan Teknik
Pertambangan Fakultas Teknologi Mineral UPN Veteran Yogyakarta,
Diktat Kuliah, 1997.
4. Jefrey. G. Skouser and Paul F.Z, Acid Mine Water Control and Treatment, West
Virginia University and the National Mine and Land Reclamation Centre,
1995.