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THE EFFECTS OF MINE ACID ON THE POND RIVER WATERSHED IN WESTERN KENTUCKY 1
Author(s) -
Dyer Robert
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1977.tb03871.x
Subject(s) - swamp , land reclamation , watershed , sulfuric acid , wildlife , environmental science , coal mining , coal , mining engineering , wetland , ecosystem , wildlife refuge , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , archaeology , chemistry , geography , ecology , geotechnical engineering , machine learning , computer science , biology , inorganic chemistry
H 2 SO 4 (sulfuric acid) is formed by a chemical process that occurs in unreclaimed coal mines. The highly toxic acid then flows into the lower swamp areas where it causes considerable damage to the ecosystem. The major effect of the acid is the mass destruction of thousands of trees and various other phreatophytic plants. The contamination is so serious that most of the wildlife has migrated out of the affected area of the swamp in order to survive. Certain geological features such as coal bearing monadanocks make the area somewhat sensitive to mining activities and related geologic hazards. New methods of mine acid abatement make the concept of mass reclamation more realistic than at any time in the past. The constant annihilation of swamp life and processes emphasizes the urgent need for reclamation of the swamp.