MINIG DIVISION

MINING ENGINEERING
3rd Year, Class - A, Daily Shift
English V

Initial project

Topic: How to minimize water contamination by acid mining drainage during coal
mining at Vulcan Minerals Mozambique – Moatize, 2022

Student:

Celso Mussa Alberto

Teacher:

MA. David Constantino Colaço

Tete, July of 2022

INITIAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

I: Mining Engineering

Personal and Academicals Information

II: Instituto Superior Politécnico de Tete

Initial project proposal

Project Supervisor: MA. David Constantino Colaço

Academic Year: 3rd

III: TITLE AND TOPIC OF THE FINAL PROJECT:

How to minimize water contamination by acid mining drainage during coal mining at
Vulcan Minerals Mozambique – Moatize, 2022

IV: TYPE OF FINAL PROJECT

The final project will be an actin research. An action research Action research is a
process for improving educational practice; its methods involve action, evaluation, and
reflection. It is a process to gather evidence to implement change in practices.

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Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................4

Introduction................................................................................................................5

Aims Of The Study....................................................................................................6

Who Will Carry Out The Tasks?...................................................................................6

Main Goal Of The Project..........................................................................................6

Theoretical Background.............................................................................................7

Justifyng Academic And Personal Interest On The Topic.........................................8

Feasibility Of The Work............................................................................................9

Work Planny...............................................................................................................9

8. Bibliography.........................................................................................................10

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Abstract

This research is based on demonstrating of how water is being contaminated during the
coal mining at the Vulcan Minerals Mozambique Company - in Moatize. Since water is
the most precious liquid in the world and must have the most high potability (more than
7 of PH) to be released to people in order to drink, and coal is a sedimentary rock
composed by carbon, sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, and other heavy metals,
wich when not properly disposed of, can contaminate the aquatic environment,
atmosphere and also the soil, in addition to human contamination. Any naturally
occurring mineral concentrations may come to contaminate the soil, water and rocks.
The inheritance of the disordered disposition, in the past, of carbon-pyrite tailings and
release of raw effluents from processing and mine drainage directly into waterways, in
the Vulcan Minerals Mozambique- in Moatize, continues to contaminate the water. This
water is known as Acid Mine Drainage – DAM. It’s obligated to treat water after the
process or use in processing plant, because this process will lead to the perseverance of
people who leave around the mine even to people living so far because after that they
use to dump it and the water goes straight to the river. Readers of this project will be
able to understand how the water is polluted when the coal has been minined and
processed, just because after the desliming, loading and transporting the rock, the next
stage is the preparation (mineral treatment), in order to let the mineral ready to be sold
to outer world to be used as energetic resource “in case of coal”. For the execution of
the project the researcher will be based on tools, observation and interviews on the local
of study. All those results of this research are not generalized, but rather directed to a
mining industry installed in Tete. So all the companies making extraction in Tete must
apply all the rules, and use the most safety equipment, only to preserve the environment
health and in the same way to preserve the health of population living around. So it’s
expected to obtain positive results during all these mining activities in Vale, specially
treating water before drainage to avoid contamination of people health, even aquatic
biodiversity. This must be well done because instead of drink, wash, clean and take bath
people use to irrigate in field to strengthen soil, so that food products can be growing up
in the healthy way.

Keywords: Coal Mining, Water pollution, Acid mine Dreinage, Vulcan Minerals
Mozambique, Moatize
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 1. Introduction

Coal mining is an important economic activity, and contributes to the growth of the
local and national economy. On the other hand, the exploitation of this resource is an
important source of pollution and brings serious consequences and it has negative
impacts especially on the quality of water resources. Mining and mineral processing
activities can contribute to the contamination of surface and underground waters, if
there is no strict control of the operations involved. Special attention should be paid to
the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) which is the aqueous and acidic solution
generated when sulphureted minerals present in coal mining residues (tailings or sterile)
are oxidized in the presence of water.

Aiming at a reduction in the impact on water pollution caused by coal mining in the
Vulcan minerals Mozambique-company in Tete, a strategy of reusing water in the
process has been encouraged, as well as increasing environmental restrictions in order
to obtain a discarded water with characteristics identical to that collected .
Consequently, several water treatment methods have been studied in order to meet the
new environmental requirements that already exist, as well as to anticipate future
restrictions.

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 2. Aims of the Study

The tasks will be performed by the researcher. For the development of this research, the
researcher will base himself on a bibliographic review, carried out by consulting
articles, theses, magazines and books that involve the area studied. Checking general
concepts on pollution caused by coal mining, pollution indicators and possible measures
to mitigate the effects of pollution caused by the exploitation of coal by the company.
Consulting the internet was crucial for the understanding and development of the topic
that will be discussed here.

3. What must be investigated, analyzed or designed?

In the research will be analyzed the impacts of water pollution by coal during mining
activities in the Vulcan minerals Mozambique, Tete to the community who depends on
precious resource. Through the analysis of qualitative data’s such as books, articles and
manuals, and will be done according to results that will be archived possible strategy to
minimize the effects of the problems which is being study.

4. Main Goal Of The Project

 Analyse the impacts of water pollution by coal during mining activities in the
Vulcan minerals Mozambique,
4.1 Specific Goals
 Understand the how water pollution by coal during mining activities occur.
 Identify the problems caused by water pollution by coal during mining activities
 Identify and describe the possible solutions from the solutions.

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 5. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

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The ISO 11760 (2005) standard - Classification of Coals, adopts the following
definition for coal: “sedimentary rock, aiming to improve the preservation of sediments
plants, with associated mineral matter corresponding to ash content less than or equal to
50%, by mass, expressed on a dry basis. This definition does not include grass as coal
but as raw material for the formation of coals. Like other definitions refer only to coal
as a rock composed primarily of fossil organic matter and mineral matter, which
accumulates in sedimentary basins and undergoes a process of alteration
biogeochemistry.

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Coal Mining and processing activities can contribute to the pollution of surface and
underground water, if there is no strict control of the operations involved. Special
attention must be given to erosive and silting processes that occur in mines and quarries,
deposits of permanent sterile material and leached ore, concentration plant area and
water disposal sites, among others (OLIVEIRA; LUZ, 2001)
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The main environmental impacts on coal mining associated with the opening
of pits and provision of tailings from beneficiation. In the first, there is a translation of
layers of soil and rock in piles, exposing rocks capable of generating acid drainage to
an oxidative environment. In the second, after extracting and beneficiary the material
mined generates tailings with high pyrite content (FeS2), which is disposed
incorrectly, contributes to the generation of incorrectly acid mine drainage (DAM)
(ALEXANDRE,1999).
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The Acid Dragem de Minas occursDAM) is the result of the natural sequence of
sulfides that occurs during the mining process when they are exposed to air or water.
DAM is characterized by being a precision effluent with high temperatures in sulfates
and metals. (mainly aluminium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc)
andorganic compound. (FUNGARO, 2005).

1. ISO 11760, 2005. Classification of Coals, 1st edition. International Organization for
Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland. 9 pp.
2. OLIVEIRA, F.C. & MATTIAZZO, M.E. (2001.) Mobility of heavy metals in a
dystrophic yellow oxisol treated with sewage sludge and cultivated with sugarcane.
Scientia Agricola, v. 58, no. 4, p. 807-812, 2001.
3. ALEXANDRE, N. Z. Environmental diagnosis of Santa Catarina Coal Region:
Degradation of Natural Resources. Rev. Tech Environment, Criciuma, v.
4. FUNGARO, D.A.(2005) Acid mine drainage treatment uses zeolites synthesized from 7
coal ash. Meio Filtrante Magazine, no. 18,
In the coal mining and processing stages, sterile solid residues and tailings consisting of
carbonaceous materials and minerals with no commercial value are disposed of. These
tailings are also rich in iron sulfides that oxidize in the presence of air, water and the
action of the bacteria Thiobacillus ferroxidans, triggering the acidification of drains and
the dissolution of metals, originating an acid mine drainage (AMD). A AMD contains
dissolved metallic ions (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al, Cr, Hg, Mg, Mn) in compositions
and specifications depending on specific geological conditions (FUNGARO, 2005).

The contamination of water resources can occur in three ways in mining:

a) Through the high consumption of water for ore processing;
b) By lowering the water table during an ore extraction stage, reducing the flow of water
from rivers and also impacting the recharge of aquifers;
c) Possible contamination of water through tailings with a concentration of toxic
substances that are taken to water resources by surface run off or through the soil,
which, when contaminated, can also contaminate water resources. Iron, sand and granite
mining, for example, can contaminate and pollute like water by the mud generated
during the mining process.

5.1 Pollution of groundwater in Moatize

The waters are important are a natural resource necessary for a life and for a natural
resource of the ecosystems, representing more than 95% of the globe's exploitable
freshwater reserves. Most than half of the world's population depends on the forces to
supply (Ribeiro, 2009). Although natural causes exist, although natural causes exist
Anthropogenic activity is undoubtedly what weighs most heavily on this type of
definition. In particular the importance of the mining activity because this, using or not
substances designed for the acquisition process, produce solid tailings and/or can the
aquifers. Industry is part of this sensory sensation group water polluters. Active or even
abandoned coal mines can pose a danger to It's one of the biggest waters. The
possibility of leaching soluble minerals from fillers these mines for water water (EPA-
United States Protection Agency). O
another that can take the ideas of phenomena in mine is the acid drainage. Aquifers of
the existing waters in the basin of the existing aquifers Moatize coal mining is a case
that has been little studied so far.

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5.2 Toxicity to aquatic species
Accorfing to Anderson, Fish, as they are consumers and belong to the upper level of the
aquatic ecosystem, accumulate a large amount of persistent pollutants, which explains
the great importance of these organisms in toxicity tests. The presence of metals such as
cadmium, mercury, arsenic and selenium in the aquatic environment can adversely
affect the health of fish. In particular, the mechanisms that protect fish against diseases
are more affected (ANDERSON; ZEEMAN, 1995).

5.3 Toxicity to humans

According to Jeffery, for humans adverse, the effects caused by exposure to heavy
metals are related more to functional exposure than to general levels of metals in the
environment. This applies both to workers in the mining, industrial or agricultural
sector, and to people who use heavy metal compounds directly in their occupations
(JEFFERY, 2001).

6. Justifyng academic and personal interest on the topic

During the coal mining and processing activities carried out in the open at the Vulcan
Mozambique Mineral company in Tete, the production process involves a large number
of steps and these steps are the movement of large volumes of water, which becomes
responsible for the transport of contaminants such as Oils and chemical reagents
generated in the stages of drilling, dismantling and transporting coal ore. In general, this
water from mining is discarded in the tailings basin, and in some cases it can be used in
mineral processing operations and during these processes it is associated with the
possibility of water contamination, increased pH and toxicity rates and thus putting at
risk the lives of the inhabitants and also the lives of the animals that live in the
surroundings of the exploration area.
The researcher's objective is to identify and assess these risks, during the development
activities of the mining operations and the processing plant of this company, in this way
to foresee how to manage and treat the effluents that represent a danger to the health of
the inhabitants.

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 7. To what extent will this project contribute to the chosen topic and help
future readers
Future readers of this research will have this project as a guide to understanding how
coal mining can be an important source of contamination of water resources, and pose a
risk to the health of people who depend on this resource for their survival. The same
research can encourage researchers interested in going deeper into this area.

8. Why do you want to Finish this project and what do you expect to achieve
from results?
There is a desire to finish the project as it is known of the industrial and economic
importance of the province of Tete, for being an extractive industrial park and also
knowing the weak application of environmental laws. Tete province is more specifically
the district of Moatize and has complained about the poor quality of the water supplied
by the Fund for Heritage and Water Supply (FIPAG), and also about the suspended dust
that is suspended during transport demolition activities. And with the results of the
research, I hope that the environmental impacts of the visit of the mineral coal
exploration are somehow minimized in the Vulcan Minerals Mozambique.

9. Context For the Project and Methodology to be Applyed

in this field, the methodological procedures that the writer used in this research to
collect the information will be from a systematic study, where the researcher will
systematically collect qualitative and quantitative data, using works done in the same
area of study, and interviewing the inhabitants and employees of the Vulcan Mineral
Mozambique company in Tete.

10. FEASIBILITY OF THE WORK

The present work is feasible to be carried out within the foreseen deadline, provided that
it is available at the ISPT Library and public libraries in the city of Tete, in order to
obtain more concrete data, which can contribute to the consistency of the research

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 11. WORK PLANNY

Tasks Duration Start July August September

Weeks

Chapter 1 15 days 01/07/22 X x

Introduction
Aims of Study 15 days 15/07/22 x x
Chapter 3 15 days 01/07/2022 x x
Methodology
Chapter 4 15 days 15/07/22 x x
Analysis and evalution
Chapter 5 10 01/07/2022 x x
Conclusion and
recomendations
Reference and 10 10/07/22 x
Bibliography
Correction and 10 10/07/22 x
Submission

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12. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. ANDERSON, D.P. & ZEEMAN, M.G. (1995) Immunotoxicology in Fish. In:

RAND, G.M.(Ed.). Fundamentals of aquatic toxicology: effects,
environmental fate, and risk assessment. Washington: Taylor & Francis.
2. ALEXANDRE, N. Z. Environmental diagnosis of Santa Catarina Coal
Region: Degradation of Natural Resources. Rev. Tech Environment, Criciuma,
v. 5.
3. EVANGELOU, V.P. Pyrite Oxidation and Its Control. CRC Press, 1995. 293 p.

4. FUNGARO, D.A.(2005) Acid mine drainage treatment uses zeolites

synthesized from coal ash. Meio Filtrante Magazine, no. 18,

5. HAKKOU, R.; BENZAAZOUA, M.; BUSSIÈRE, B. Acid Mine Drainage at the

Abandoned Kettara Mine (Morocco): 1. Environmental Characterization. Mine
Water and the Environment. Springer: v. 27, n. 3. 2008. pg. 145-159

6. ISO 11760, 2005. Classification of Coals, 1st edition. International

Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland. 9 pp.
7. OLIVEIRA, F.C. & MATTIAZZO, M.E. (2001.) Mobility of heavy metals in a
dystrophic yellow oxisol treated with sewage sludge and cultivated with
sugarcane. Scientia Agricola, v. 58, no. 4, p. 807-812, 2001.

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