Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Attenuation Of Acid Mine Drainage Enhanced By Organic Carbon And Limestone Addition: A Process Characterization, Anna M. Gillmor

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Surface and groundwaters in contact with mining-exposed pyritic materials have the capacity to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), an acidic, sulfate-rich, metals-laden effluent. The Davis Mine located in northwestern Massachusetts offers a model site to study the processes of natural attenuation of acid mine drainage. These include physico-chemical processes such as dilution and sorption, geochemical processes such as aluminosilicate weathering and biological processes such as transformation and cycling of sulfate, iron and acidity by bacterial metabolism. A focus of recent research undertaken at the site has been characterizing the presence and activity of these bacteria with an aim to stimulate …