Environmental geology of the Summitville mine, Colorado

Economic Geology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Although altered and mineralized rocks at Summitville mine in Colorado contain minimal amount of sulfide minerals, acid mine problems existed primarily because of the pervasive alteration of the surrounding rocks, through hydrothermal process, to highly siliceous and argillized rocks that are incapable of buffering acidic waters during weathering. The problems are compounded by the continued exposure of altered and mineralized rocks in open pit, heap leach pad and waste piles to oxygenated waters. Inadequate subsurface structural control and underground mine workings also greatly affect water quality and the location of acid mine drainage output. It is expected that with these initial results, geological studies on constrained acid-generation from ore and altered rocks will be pursued.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Environmental geology of the Summitville mine, Colorado
Series title Economic Geology
DOI 10.2113/gsecongeo.89.8.2006
Volume 89
Issue 8
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher Society of Economic Geologists
Contributing office(s) Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center
Description 9 p.
First page 2006
Last page 2014
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