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Hydrogeochemistry of coal mine water of North Karanpura coalfields, India: implication for solute acquisition processes, dissolved fluxes and water quality assessment

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Abstract

Mine water samples collected from different mines of the North Karanpura coalfields were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), major anions, cations and trace metals to evaluate mine water geochemistry and assess solute acquisition processes, dissolved fluxes and its suitability for domestic, industrial and irrigation uses. Mine water samples are mildly acidic to alkaline in nature. The TDS ranged from 185 to 1343 mg L−1 with an average of 601 mg L−1. Ca2+ and Mg2+ are the dominant cations, while SO4 2− and HCO3 − are the dominant anions. A high concentration of SO4 2− and a low HCO3 −/(HCO3 − + SO4 2−) ratio (<0.50) in the majority of the water samples suggest that either sulphide oxidation or reactions involving both carbonic acid weathering and sulphide oxidation control solute acquisition processes. The mine water is undersaturated with respect to gypsum, halite, anhydrite, fluorite, aluminium hydroxide, alunite, amorphous silica and oversaturated with respect to goethite, ferrihydrite, quartz. About 40% of the mine water samples are oversaturated with respect to calcite, dolomite and jarosite. The water quality assessment shows that the coal mine water is not suitable for direct use for drinking and domestic purposes and needs treatment before such utilization. TDS, TH, F−, SO4 2−, Fe, Mn, Ni and Al are identified as the major objectionable parameters in these waters for drinking. The coal mine water is of good to suitable category for irrigation use. The mines of North Karanpura coalfield annually discharge 22.35 × 106 m3 of water and 18.50 × 103 tonnes of solute loads into nearby waterways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR - Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826 015, India

    Babita Neogi, Abhay Kumar Singh & Aaditya Chaturvedi

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, India

    Babita Neogi & D. D. Pathak

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  1. Babita Neogi
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  2. Abhay Kumar Singh
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  3. D. D. Pathak
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  4. Aaditya Chaturvedi
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Correspondence to Abhay Kumar Singh.

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Neogi, B., Singh, A.K., Pathak, D.D. et al. Hydrogeochemistry of coal mine water of North Karanpura coalfields, India: implication for solute acquisition processes, dissolved fluxes and water quality assessment. Environ Earth Sci 76, 489 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6813-4

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