An Evaluation of Problems Arising from Acid Mine Drainage in the Vicinity of Shasta Lake, Shasta County California.

摘要

Streams draining the mined areas of massive sulfide ore deposits in the East and West Shasta Mining Districts of northern California are generally acid and contain large concentrations of dissolved metals,including iron,copper,and zinc. The streams,including Flat,Little Backbone,Spring,West Squaw,Horse,and Town Creeks,discharge into Shasta Lake and the Sacramento River and have caused numerous fish kills. The major source of pollution is discharge from underground mines. A secondary source of pollution is streamflow and surface runoff that has passed through mine dumps where the oxidation of pyrite and other sulfide minerals results in the production of acid and the mobilization of metals. Suggested methods of treatment include the use of air and hydraulic sealing of the mines,lime neutralization of mine effluent,channeling of runoff and mine effluent away from mine and tailing areas,and the grading and sealing of mine dumps.