Placement of Waste Rocks in Waste Dump for Prevention of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) by Cover System in Open Cast Coal Mine: Effects of Water Quality on AMD

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) attributed to mine operation is considered one of serious environmental problems in the world. Cover system is utilized as an environmentally-friendly and an effective way for prevention of AMD in many cases in open cast coal mines in Indonesia. Waste rocks are classified into Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) or Non Acid Forming (NAF) on the basis of geochemical properties of rocks. PAF which is a cause of AMD is covered with NAF which is considered rocks unrelated to AMD at waste dump in order to prevent the contact of PAF with water and oxygen. The placement of backfill of waste rocks in waste dump is determined only by the classification at the aim of the prevention of AMD. According to past studies, pH affects the progress of AMD through the change of dissolution behavior of metals. In regard to the occurrence of AMD on the inside of waste dump, waste rocks in the lower part of waste dump are possibly affected by leachate from the upper part. Thus, the placement of waste rocks in waste dump need to be discussed in terms of not only the types of PAF or NAF but also the effects of water quality on the occurrence of AMD. This study presents the effects of pH on the progress of AMD with the results of leaching test under various pH conditions using rock samples taken in coal mine: pH was set at 3.0, 6.0, and 8.0. The results indicate that pH is not important factor as compared to the supply of oxygen to discuss the progress of AMD for a long term. In other words, the placement of waste rocks in cover system has to be determined by considering not so much the effect of water quality as the supply of oxygen.