Mine pollution is not a familiar concept, but this pollution is caused by toxic substances contained in mine water from metal mines and seeping water from tailing dumpsites. These types of wastewater have strong acidity and may contain heavy metals. A major feature is that treatment is required even after production activities have ceased at closed mines. Treatment must be implemented 24 hours a day on a semi-permanent basis, and most discharge locations are in remote areas far from human habitation. Consequently, a highly effective system is required which enables unmanned operation and remote monitoring.
The main treatment methods include neutralization, agglomeration, sedimentation settlement and treatment of settled out neutralized mine sludge. The water quality varies greatly depending on the ore veins, and it is necessary to conduct surveys and provide suggestions for each type of ore vein. As a member of the Sumitomo Metal Mining Group, we have undertaken processing of mine wastewater from many different mines. Based on this extensive experience, we provide very effective systems from on-site surveys to recommendations on treatment methods and construction work.