Environmental impacts associated with an abandoned mine in the Witbank Coalfield, South Africa

• Published in: International journal of coal geology Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 195 - 216
• Main Authors: Bell, F.G., Bullock, S.E.T., Hälbich, T.F.J., Lindsay, P.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: acid mine drainage; Coal; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; pillar failure; Pollution, environment geology; Sedimentary rocks; spoil heaps; spontaneous combustion; void migration; Water resources; South Africa; Southern Africa; void migration; spontaneous combustion; acid mine drainage; pillar failure; spoil heaps; impact statements; carbonaceous rocks; coal fields; pillars; strength; Africa; X-ray diffraction; ground water; flora; vegetation; mining; pollution; sedimentary rocks; X-ray fluorescence; combustion; water quality; water resource management; abandoned mines; subsidence; coal; drainage; drinking water; electrical conductivity
• ISSN: 0166-5162; 1872-7840
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-5162(00)00033-1

Mining at Middelburg Colliery in the Witbank Coalfield commenced at the turn of the last century. Initially, there was little environmental degradation associated with mining activities; however, in the late 1930s, a pillar-robbing programme commenced. This has had a marked effect on the environment. Some of the most notable primary effects include subsidence, the appearance of tension cracks at the surface and crownhole development. Secondary effects include spontaneous combustion of the coal worked, as air has been provided with ready access to the mine, accelerated subsidence due to the strength of many pillars being reduced by burning, and a marked deterioration of groundwater quality in the area due to the seepage of acid mine drainage from the mine. Spoil heaps also form blemishes on the landscape. These contain significant amounts of coal and have undergone spontaneous combustion. The deterioration in the quality of water has led to the decimation of vegetation in some areas and the eradication of aquatic flora and fauna in a nearby stream.