Summary
The nature and origin of acidic drainage from coal mines is briefly reviewed and a short description given of the Natal Coalfields. This is followed by an account of field investigations that have been carried out in the catchments of the Blood, Umzinyatshana, Sundays and Ingagane rivers (streams of the Tugela system). It is concluded that, in the Natal Coalfields, small streams near active or disused mines are in a very badly polluted condition, while the presence of pollution from this source is even detectable in the major rivers draining the area. It is estimated that the situation will become very much worse in 20–40 years time unless adequate control measures are instigated in the immediate future, for example, by a regional water conservation scheme.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blignaut, J. J. G. & Further, F. J. J. - 1940 - The Northern Natal Coalfied (Area No. 1): The Vryheid-Paulpietersburg Area. Part I; Geological, Union of S.A., Dept. of Mines, Coal Survey, Mem. No. 1.
Blignaut, J. J. G. & Further, F. J. J. - 1952 - The Northern Natal Coalfield (Area No. 2): The Utrecht-Newcastle Area. Part I; Geological, Union of S.A., Department of Mines, Coal Survey, Mem. No. 2.
Braley, S. A. - 1954 - Summary Report of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Health, Industrial Fellowships Nos. 1–7, Mellon Institute of Industrial Research.
Braley, S. A. - 1960 - Special Report on the Oxidation of Pyritic Conglomerates, Coal Industry Advisory Committee to the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission; Research Project No. 370-6, Mellon Institute of Industrial Research.
DEPARTMENT OF MINES - 1936 - The Mineral Resources of the Union of South Africa; Govt. Printer Pretoria.
duToit, A. L. - 1954 - The Geology of South Africa; 3rd edn. Oliver and Boyd. London.
Hamilton, G. N. G. & Cooke, H. B. S. - 1960 - Geology for South African Students; 4th edn. C.N.A. Ltd.
Hanna, G. P. et al. - 1963 - Acid mine drainage research potentialities; J. Water Pollution Control Fed. 35: 275–296.
Kemp, P. H. - 1963 - Geological effects on surface waters in Natal; Nature 200; 1085.
Oliff, W. D. - 1960 - Hydrobiological Studies on the River System, Part I, The main Tugela river; Hydrobiologia 14: 281–385.
Oliff, W. D. - 1963 - Hydrobiological studies on the Tugela river System, Part III, The Buffalo river; Hydrobiologia 21: 355–379.
Oliff, W. D., Kemp, P. H. & Kiscing, J. L. - 1965 - Hydrobiological studies on the Tugela river system, Part IV, The Sundays river; Hydrobiologia, 26: 189–202.
Wybergh, W. J. - 1925 - The Coal Resources of the Union of South Africa, Vol. 2. The Inland Coalfields of Natal; Union of S.A., Dept. of Mines, Geological Survey, Mem. 19.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper constitutes Part VI of the series ‘Hydrobiological Studies on the Tugela River System’. Earlier papers of the series have been published in Hydrobiologia, as noted in the appended References.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kemp, P.H. Hydrobiological studies on the Tugela River system, Part VI-acidic drainage from Mines in the natal coalfields. Hydrobiologia 29, 393–425 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00189904
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00189904