Abstract
Hydrogeological studies of the Enugu coal mining area were carried out which included hydrogeochemical analyses of water samples. These analyses revealed high sulphate and iron content in the acid mine drainage water as well as high total dissolved solids’ (TDS) and low pH (acidity) values. The water issues from the Ajali Sandstone formation and the underlying carbonaceous Mamu Formation and is classified as hard water. As a consequence of under-mining this aquifer, huge volumes of (polluted) water has flooded the mines are channelled into some streams or rivers which in turn get chemically polluted. Remedial measures have been indicated which include the following:
-
(1)
the treatment of acid mine water before pumping into streams or river;
-
(2)
the disposal of mine spoil wastes in carefully prepared and designed disposal sites;
-
(3)
planned and detailed mapping of the fractures in the Manu Formation for more effective dewatering scheme and increased exploitation of the overlying Ajali Sandstone aquifer to reduce or limit the amount of water flooding the mines in the underlying Mamu Formation.
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Abbreviations
- a.m.s.l.:
-
above mean sea level
- cm/s:
-
centimetres per second
- K:
-
Hydraulic conductivity
- M:
-
meter(s)
- mg/l:
-
milligrams per litre
- m/yr:
-
meters per year
- T:
-
transmissivity
- Qt:
-
total discharge
- V:
-
groundwater velocity
- V:
-
specific discharge
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Ezeigbo, H.I., Ezeanyim, B.N. Environmental pollution from coal mining activities in the Enugu area Anambka state Nigeria. Mine Water and the Environment 12, 53–61 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02914799
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02914799