| Title: |
Mine Water Treatment at Wheal Jane Tin Mine, Cornwall (Case Study Bulletin 4)
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
United Kingdom
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| Year: |
2004 |
| Author 1/Producer: |
CL:AIRE
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| Other Authors/Producers: |
Wheal Jane Project Research Consortium & CEH Windermere
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Professional / trade / industry associations, institutes or networks
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| Publisher: |
CL:AIRE
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| Report / download web link (=direct link): |
http://www.claire.co.uk/casestudy.php
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| Format (e.g. PDF): |
PDF
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| Size: (e.g. 20mb) |
300
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->Heavy metals
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Contaminant hydrology
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Hydrogeology
Diffuse pollution-->Diffuse pollution overview
Diffuse pollution-->Processes
Diffuse pollution-->Sources
Groundwater protection-->Planning-->Planning overview
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| Short description: |
The purpose of this Case Study Bulletin is to describe the construction and performance of both the active and passive treatment systems at the site with special emphasis on the passive system.
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| Long description: |
The Wheal Jane tin mine is located within the Carnon River valley in Cornwall, approximately 7 miles southwest of the town of Truro. It operated as a tin mine from at least the early 18th century until 1991 when it was closed and abandoned under the Mines and Quarries Act. Closure of the mine resulted in the termination of mine dewatering operations and a rise in water levels. In January 1992, there was a sudden and uncontrolled release of highly contaminated mine water into the Carnon River and Fal estuary. Oxidation of the iron rich mine water generated orange-brown discolouration over a downstream drainage area of more than 6.5 x 106 m2 including parts of Falmouth Docks. The highly conspicuous nature of the contaminated plume led to the event attracting worldwide media attention (Brown et al., 2002).
Emergency pumping and treatment from the Wheal Jane adit to the mine tailings area was immediately carried out by the owners Carnon Consolidated Ltd.
Environmental impact and remedial studies were initiated in 1994 by Knight Piésold
UK, now Scott Wilson Piésold, on behalf of the National Rivers Authority (NRA), now
the Environment Agency (EA), for both active and passive treatment systems.
In 1994 a pilot passive treatment system (PPTP) was constructed to carry out research
into possible long term passive remedial solutions at the site. An active treatment
system was constructed and became operational in 2000.
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Submitted By:
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Mr John Henstock WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 26/02/2007
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