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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
The radiological hazard and potential for generating acid mine drainage from a coal tailings dam
Felipe de Jesús López-Saucedo1, José Alberto Batista-Rodríguez2, Yuri Almaguer-Carmenates2
1Escuela Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Blvd. Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos S/N, Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, México. felipe.lopez@uadec.edu.mx.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological hazards and the potential for generating acid mine drainage from the fine coal waste commonly stored in tailings dams. The magnetic susceptibility, natural gamma radioactivity, and net neutralization potential of the tailings are characterized. The results show that the fine coal waste has a uranium equivalent concentration (eU) of 46-48 Bq kg-1, which is 37.14% higher than the world average, and 39-47 Bq kg-1 equivalent concentration of thorium (eTh), which is 56.66% higher than the world average. Also, the absorbed gamma radiation dose rate is higher than the world average. Acid-base balance tests indicate that the net neutralization potential ranged from 0.38 to 2.44. The physical properties indicate a possible radiological risk, while the chemical properties show that generating and non-generating acid drainage can coexist in the fine dam tailings.
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