Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2013
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613640437268480 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Dippenaar, Matthys Alois |
| author_browse | Dippenaar, Matthys Alois |
| author_facet | Dippenaar, Matthys Alois |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria |
| description | Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24749 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:21.733Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24749 Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings Dippenaar, Matthys Alois Van Wyk, Yazeed altus.huisamen@mtn.blackberry.com Huisamen, Altus Transport mechanisms Platinum tailings Fluid-rock interaction Mobilisation UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. Contaminant release and transport in platinum tailings are poorly studied in literature. This study serves to characterise these processes. The tailings facility is located in Steelpoort, Mpumalanga, South Africa on Critical Zone rocks of the Rustenburg Layered Suite in The Bushveld Igneous Complex. Tailings material samples were collected by hand auger- and direct push probe drilling at specific locations to represent the different materials present in the tailings facility. Water samples were collected from monitoring boreholes as well as the Steelpoort River. The samples were analysed using XRD, XRF, ABA, NAG, Reflected Light Microscopy, Acid Leaching Tests and ICP scans. Using the collected data, a geochemical model was constructed for the interpretation of mineral phase dissolution and to trace the mineral phases releasing contaminants. Analysis-, test- and modelling results showed that alteration mineral phases formed within ten years in the tailings material and that the existing alteration phases viz. talc and chlorite, as well as sulphides, are the major contributors of contaminants. Elevated pH values as well as major cation and anion concentrations were found in the fluid discharging from the tailings as well as the in groundwater, with little to no heavy metals, which were traced directly to the chromite phase. This suggests that platinum tailings do not contribute to heavy metal contamination or acid rock drainage but may increase aquifer salinity and alkalinity. The flow through the tailings, underlying vadose zone and fractured rock aquifer was characterised using permeameter- and pumping tests. From the data collected, an unsaturated flow model was developed to characterise the flow through the tailings. From the model, discharge from the tailings was calculated to take place at 0.7m per decade into the underlying vadose zone with fracture flow in the aquifer ranging from 0.46-0.026m/d, as calculated from pumping test results. Contaminant migration into the Steelpoort River is possibly inhibited by the Dwarsriver Fault, based on the chemical data and hydraulic conductivities calculated. Therefore, groundwater is considered to be the major receptor in the system and groundwater users may be negatively impacted by increasing groundwater salinity and major ion concentrations. Geology unrestricted 2013-09-06T18:16:23Z 2013-05-24 2013-09-06T18:16:23Z 2013-04-17 2013-05-24 2013-05-16 Dissertation Huisamen, A 2013, Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24749 > E13/4/500/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24749 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05162013-152151/ © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Transport mechanisms Platinum tailings Fluid-rock interaction Mobilisation UCTD Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title | Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title_full | Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title_fullStr | Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title_short | Contaminant mobilisation by fluid-rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| title_sort | contaminant mobilisation by fluid rock interaction and related transport mechanisms in platinum tailings |
| topic | Transport mechanisms Platinum tailings Fluid-rock interaction Mobilisation UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24749 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05162013-152151/ |