Development of Water Resources of Appalachia. Volume 18. Appendix C. The Incidence and Formation of Mine Drainage Pollution

Download or read book Development of Water Resources of Appalachia. Volume 18. Appendix C. The Incidence and Formation of Mine Drainage Pollution written by CORPS OF ENGINEERS CINCINNATI OHIO. and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 479 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This document furnishes information on mine drainage pollution of Appalachian streams. Effluent from coal mining activities is the major source of water pollution in most of the Appalachian coal basin. The pollution problems result from mineral acidity created when pyritic material, exposed during mining, is oxidized and the products are dissolved and carried into streams and lakes. Erosion and resultant sedimentation of the streams and lakes is another pressing problem connected with mining. Other factors contributing to reduced water quality during and after mining, i.e., hardness and mineralization, are problems, but they do not appear to be as important as acidity and sediments.