Sub-tropical clayey soils-acid mine drainage interactions: A glance at material

The increasing climate change, growing population and exhaustion of natural reserves from mining and related operations have led to severe environmental challenges. It is a known fact that acid mine drainage (AMD) from mining activities in South Africa, constitute massive environmental issues in need of drastic solutions. AMD poses a huge risk which needs prompt mitigating measures for curbing consequential effects on soil, surface, subsurface and groundwater resources, which invariably impacts human and environmental health. However, the present persistent challenges from AMD paved way for this study to assess the material properties initiated in the study for three subtropical clayey soils interacted with AMD towards ascertaining their mineral buffering efficacy for use as natural containment liners in areas affected by AMD. Series of prolonged pore volume passage of AMD through the respective soil system were undertaken and vital tests as prelude to further investigations and analysis served as a gateway to more intricate interpretations for succeeding studies. In a nutshell, the general outcome fell short of the accepted criterion specified for clay liner construction in South Africa but may considerably be utilized as a natural material in the construction of composite barriers for acidproducing wastes.