Acid strip mine lake recovery

Ecological problems associated with runoff of acid water from coal strip mines are well known, and the papers documenting such deterioration of aquatic ecosystems are many. Many investigators have shown that the sources of this acid are the iron-sulfur pyrites and marcasites left on the surface after the coal has been removed. Oxidation products of these minerals are washed from the spoil banks by rain, and the resulting acid water col lects in depressions to form acid strip mine lakes. Overflow from such lakes is of sig nificant detriment to downstream areas, and in the acid condition these lakes are