Why have some open pit mines been declared Superfund sites?

Why have some open pit mines been declared Superfund sites? The waters in the pit become highly acidic and contain high levels of toxic metals. The toxic waters of the Berkeley Pit make it one of the largest Superfund sites in the country.

What are the causes of acid mine drainage?

Acid mine drainage is the formation and movement of highly acidic water rich in heavy metals. This acidic water forms through the chemical reaction of surface water (rainwater, snowmelt, pond water) and shallow subsurface water with rocks that contain sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in sulfuric acid.

How does mining increase the rate of acid drainage quizlet?

Mine contains metal sulphide that react to form sulphuric acid solution with dissolved metals. It is very toxic to aquatic life. After mining started, the rain exposed the sulphide and caused the drainage to contaminate the water, sediments, and ground water.

Which of the following tectonic plate boundaries are responsible for the formation of some of the worlds highest mountain?

Which of the following are responsible for the formation of some of the world’s highest mountains? convergent plate boundaries.

In what ways can mining be both economically good and bad for a community?

In what ways can mining be economically bad for a community? – forests and landscapes are lost. Natural Process. Occurs as acid and metals it leaches fro, rock seep into groundwater or enter streams and lakes as runoff; it is accelerated by mining because of exposure to air.

Where do mine tailings go?

Most modern hardrock metal mines dispose of tailings as a wet mud, held in pits lined with clay or a synthetic liner. Many mines put the tailings back into the original mining pit. Some large mines use entire existing valleys sealed off with earthen dams, and others store tailings in natural lakes.

How long will acid mine drainage last?

At some mines, acidic drainage is detected within 2–5 years after mining begins, whereas at other mines, it is not detected for several decades. In addition, acidic drainage may be generated for decades or centuries after it is first detected.

What are 2 negatives about mining?

Miners breathe dangerous gases and rock dust in the mine that can make them very sick. Harming the Environment: Mining can put dangerous pollution into the environment. Mines can destroy habitats that animals rely on to survive. Some mining companies try to repair the habitat.

What mining companies can solve the problem of acid mine drainage?

The most prevalent method for treating AMD contamination is the addition of alkaline reagents such as lime, limestone, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. This treatment aims at neutralizing acidic water and the precipitation of heavy metals.

Why is mine water blue?

Likely Cause is Chloride Buildup

“When you wash sand and gravel,” he said, “you often get very blue water. Most times it is high in chlorides. The chlorides discourage bacterial growth, or for that matter any life. The water is just too salty.”

What is dust mining?

Dangerous dust

Mine dust is emitted from open-pit mines, ore processing and metal extraction plants, ore stockpiles, ore transport containers and mine waste deposits. It contains fine mineral particles that can cause lung disease and other respiratory problems, like asthma, when they are inhaled.

Why is river water brown?

Erosion from river banks brings soil into the river, changing the color. After heavy storms, many rivers run brown from all the runoff flowing into the river. Clay can cause rivers to be murky whiteuddy brown, or yellow.

What makes a river green?

As a general rule, river water turns green as more algae blooms, or when the water carries less sediments. Rivers tend to turn yellow when they carry more sediment. “Sediment and algae are both important, but too much or too little of either can be disruptive,” Gardner said.

Why are rivers turning red?

A river in Russia has turned beetroot red, horrifying locals. According to the Daily Mail, Iskitimka River is reportedly one of several rivers in the country that have undergone a mysterious discolouration. The colour change has been attributed to contamination by a mysterious pollutant.

What color is the ocean?

blue

The ocean is blue because water absorbs colors in the red part of the light spectrum. Like a filter, this leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see. The ocean may also take on green, red, or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water.

What colour is water?

The water is in fact not colorless; even pure water is not colorless, but has a slight blue tint to it, best seen when looking through a long column of water. The blueness in water is not caused by the scattering of light, which is responsible for the sky being blue.

Why is swimming pool water blue?

Looking at the structure of water itself, science tells us about the way the water molecules work. When interacting with light, the molecules actually absorb red light waves, whilst reflecting blue light waves. This selective process is known as electromagnetic absorption and is the main reason that water appears blue.

Why is the ocean salty?

Ocean salt primarily comes from rocks on land and openings in the seafloor. Salt in the ocean comes from two sources: runoff from the land and openings in the seafloor. Rocks on land are the major source of salts dissolved in seawater. Rainwater that falls on land is slightly acidic, so it erodes rocks.

Does water expire?

Though water itself doesn’t expire, bottled water often has an expiration date. In 1987, New Jersey became the first and only U.S. state to pass a law requiring that all food products — including bottled water — have an expiration date of 2 years or less from the date of manufacture.

Which food never expires?

12 Non-Perishable Foods That Really Never Expire

• Black beans.
• Black-eyed peas.
• Cannellini beans (white kidney beans)
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Great Northern beans.
• Kidney beans.
• Lentils.
• Lima beans.

Does Sugar expire?

“Technically sugar never spoils,” explain food safety experts from the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Service and Inspection Service, though they do add, “for best quality it is recommended to use within two years of opening.”

Does Salt expire?

While salt itself has no expiration date, salt products that contain iodine or seasonings that contain other ingredients such as spices, colors and flavors can deteriorate over time.

Does black pepper go bad?

Does ground black pepper ever spoil? No, commercially packaged ground black pepper does not spoil, but it will start to lose potency over time and not flavor food as intended – the storage time shown is for best quality only.

What is in pink salt?

Pink Himalayan salt is chemically similar to table salt. It contains up to 98 percent sodium chloride. The rest of the salt consists of trace minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These give the salt its light pink tint.

Does Olive Oil expire?

Most olive oils can last 18–24 months from the time they’re bottled, while extra virgin olive oils may last a bit less — around 12–18 months. Beyond this time, it will go rancid. To avoid this, store it in a cool, dark place and toss it if the best-by date has passed.

Does apple cider vinegar go bad?

The shelf life of apple cider vinegar is two years unopened, and one year once you’ve broken the seal on the bottle. You don’t have to refrigerate apple cider vinegar once it’s opened. Instead, store it in a pantry or cabinet, away from direct sunlight. Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic.

Does honey expire?

Can Honey Go Bad? When it’s stored properly, honey never goes bad, Grad said in an interview with Allrecipes. “Honey will darken and/or crystallize, but it is still safe to eat,” she said. Metal or plastic containers can oxidize the honey, and heat can change its flavor.