Drenaje ácido de minas

Acid mine drainage often reveals itself through discoloured water: orange, yellow, or cloudy. But appearances can be deceptive. Even clear water may carry high acidity and dissolved metals like arsenic or lead. Accurate identification requires pH testing and heavy metal analysis, especially near mining sites with exposed sulfide minerals.

Acid mine drainage lowers pH levels, intensifying the reactivity of metals and other pollutants. When mixed with industrial contaminants, it accelerates chemical reactions, mobilising toxins and amplifying ecological damage across waterways.

Yes. Acidic water weakens soil structures and corrodes rock formations. Over time, this degradation can destabilise slopes, increasing the risk of landslides, especially in high-rainfall regions or areas with poor drainage.

By flooding ecosystems with acidity and heavy metals, acid mine drainage suffocates aquatic life and disrupts food chains. It forms iron precipitates, like “yellow boy,” that blanket streambeds, choking out oxygen and biodiversity.

Acid mine drainage alters soil pH and infuses it with toxic metals, reducing fertility. This stunts plant growth, contaminates crops, and can render entire landscapes unproductive for years.

Heavy rainfall accelerates runoff, spreading acidic contaminants faster. Drier seasons can concentrate pollutants in stagnant pools. Climate change intensifies both extremes, worsening the spread and severity of acid mine drainage.

It can persist for decades or even centuries. The chemical reaction that causes it continues long after mining stops, especially in the absence of active treatment. Contaminants from abandoned sites often leach into nearby ecosystems, creating ongoing environmental and regulatory challenges.

Prevention starts with controlling exposure. This includes sealing waste rock, managing runoff, and using alkaline materials to neutralise acidity. However, these methods are often complex and costly without a sustainable water management system.

Chemical treatment and water transport come with high capital and ongoing maintenance costs. Minetek’s on-site evaporation systems eliminate these expenses by reducing water volumes at the source, removing the need for complex pre-treatment or chemical plants. This lowers overhead, simplifies operations, and delivers long-term savings while maintaining environmental integrity.

Controlled evaporation stabilises acidity while reducing water volume. Minetek’s high-performance evaporators are engineered to handle extreme conditions, including high TDS, TSS, and acidity. By focusing on volume reduction at the source, our systems simplify acid mine drainage management without compromising environmental performance or site flexibility.