Abstract
Issues of acid mine drainage (AMD) from mining
activities is a lingering phenomenon to the present day developing
South Africa as well as in most developed countries around the globe.
However, the insistent rise in environmental contamination in South
Africa is drastically attracting massive concerns. Vital concerns of
AMD in South Africa still remain the threat to soil, surface, subsurface
and ground water reserves among others, which are known to
consequentially affect human and environmental health. This
persistent challenge has given rise to the need for investigating the
buffering efficacy of clayey mineral soils for use as natural
contaminant barriers to pollutant species from AMD. Also, increasing
climatic changes, growing population and depletion of natural
resources from mining and related operations have further increased
these environmental challenges. However, the constantly growing
challenges gave bearing for this study to experimentally outline series
of vital tests on three subtropical clayey soils infused with AMD for
the determination of their mineral buffering efficacy towards potential
use as natural containment liners in areas affected by AMD. Series of
dissolution, diffusion and water sampling analysis were initiated herein
on the respective soil systems leading to progressive investigations and
analysis for decisive interpretations in subsequent studies. In summary,
the general outcome was below the accepted criterion specified for clay
liner construction in South Africa. However, the tested samples can be
incorporated into the design and construction of composite barriers for
acid-generating wastes.