Prediction of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and Metal Release Sources at the Küre Copper Mine Site, Kastamonu, NW Turkey

Abstract

Waste and lithological rocks were subjected to aqueous leaching, acid base accounting (ABA), and net acid generation (NAG) tests, and detailed mineralogical investigations were conducted to predict acid mine drainage (AMD) formation at Turkey’s largest historical copper deposits. The field water chemistry from springs and seeps on the mine site were compared with the static and long term aqueous leaching test results. During the ABA, NAG and long term paste pH tests, ore rich and ore bearing wastes showed a paste pH <4, implying their acid generating nature. The relationship between net neutralization potential and acid producing potential revealed that waste rocks with a low sulfur content were generally low potential sources of AMD. Consistent with the static test results, aqueous leaching tests revealed that greater concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co and As were released from the wastes rich in pyrite. The test methods all generally agreed that the ore-rich wastes (O, P1C, P1D) were the main sources of AMD and metal contamination in the district.