Few aquatic organisms survive in mine drainage due to low pH and coating of bottom substrate by iron hydroxides. I seek to determine the relationship between sediment color and sediment chemistry in natural and treated mine drainage to determine if these sediments can be used as a pigment raw material. If so, such utilization can help pay for remediation of abandoned mine sites and reduce the need to mine pigments from soil. Currently, mine drainage sediments either choke out life in affected streams and lakes or sediments from treatment facilities present a waste disposal problem. Relatively little is known about the bulk composition of acid mine drainage sediments.
Most investigations are of individual solid phases present.
Even less is known about the bulk composition of sediments produced during mine drainage treatment, though it is known that the treatment process affects the sludge composition and color. Numerous suggestions for utilizing materials from mine drainage have been made, but very little work has been done to determine if raw materials can be recovered. One exception carried through to the production stage is the recovery of common salts from mine drainage in Europe. One group of researchers is investigating the use of the sediments as pigment raw material. Similar ferric oxides and hydroxides have historically been used and are still being used as natural red, yellow, and brown pigments.