Effects of discharging acid-mine drainage into evaporation ponds lined with clay on chemical quality of the surrounding soil and water

Compacted clay layers are commonly used as liners to limit acid-mine drainage (AMD) percolation into the surrounding environment from containment areas or ponds. In the long term, this practical and sometimes economical means of AMD disposal has often presented other considerable environmental challenges. The chemical quality of soil, river water and groundwater surrounding evaporation ponds lined with clay was determined at Iron-Duke Mine in Glendale, Zimbabwe. At this mine over 150 m3/d of wastewater containing AMD were discharged daily for over a decade. The soils located downslope in relation to the ponds and closer to the ponds were acidified (pH 2.8–4.4) and enriched with salts. The level of contamination was highest within 15 m from the ponds and at 2–6 m depths from the surface. The variability in soil pH and electrical conductivity with position, distance from the ponds and depth from surface was attributed to the vertical and lateral flow of contaminated groundwater containing leachates from the ponds. The groundwater and river water surrounding the ponds were contaminated with arsenic (As), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), sulphate, salts and acidity, and the level of contamination increased with proximity to the ponds. Potential public health hazards from consumption of the groundwater and river water were high. It was concluded that discharging of AMD into the ponds has not been an environmentally effective means of AMD containment and disposal. There was need for better AMD disposal means, particularly those that would improve the containment of AMD to reduce its seepage.