Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Okiep copper district in the north-western corner of South Africa is a region that has been mined for over 150 years. Most mining operations have ceased, but years of mining has left the area scattered with abandoned mining sites. Acids (as used in ore processing) together with acid mine drainage generated from tailings exposure, collectively referred to as AMD hereafter, are a contamination risk to water resources and the biodiversity of this arid area. This study focused on an abandoned copper processing pond located close to the town of Nababeep. The leaching pond is unlined and has been excavated in the shallow colluvial soils. The natural soils of the area are shallow (60 cm) (WRB – Arenosol; SA – Oakleaf). Formations of corroded granite-gneiss boulders are an indication of the corrosiveness of the AMD collecting in the pond. The AMD was collected from the pond in the dry season at its most concentrated form and the AMD had exceptionally high concentrations of Al (26.9 g/l), Fe (42.9 g/l), Mg (20.5 g/l), Cu (3.8 g/l) and Mn (3.4 g/l). Melanterite (FeSO4·7H2O), a soluble ferrous compound, was found to play an important role in the immediate release of Fe and sulfates. The pristine soils have a sandy texture (2–5.2 %clay). The minerals detected in the clay phase include illite, kaolinite, montmorillonite and quarts. Pristine soils show some degree of contamination with low pH (4.38–4.77) and high Cu and sulfate contents. Soils located in the processing pond, which have been exposed to AMD for an extended period of time, showed poorly crystalline phases to be present (indicated by a broadening of the XRD peaks for clay minerals). Saturation indices (SI) were determined for saturated paste extracts of the pond soils and the obtained SI values support the notion of dissolution of silicate clays, as the obtained SI values ranged between –1.3 and –11.77 for illite and –4.76 to 0.58 for kaolinite. Jarosite, a new phase, formed in the contaminated soil and is a sink for K. Long term weathering experiments of pristine soils exposed to AMD indicated that clay minerals are significantly weathered and altered, which was identified by observing the broadening of the clay XRD peaks. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were generated by scanning clay samples of the weathered soil. Amorphous phases were confirmed by structured water bands with wavenumber values of 3700 and 3300 cm−1 for acid treated soil. Micrographs showed a more amorphous and corroded morphology in the acid treated soil. Metal retention experiments were conducted by exposing the pristine soil to AMD repeatedly. Iron was the predominant metal attenuated in the soil. Metals such as Al, Mn, Na, K, Ca and Co were released by the soil into solution. Removal of Si is associated with the dissolution of clay minerals. The pristine soil shows limited capacity to neutralize acidity and low capacity to retain metals when leached with AMD. Metals were predominantly extracted in the water soluble phase of the long term weathering treatments. Aluminium was the most mobile fraction, being extracted predominantly from the water soluble fraction (2035 mg/kg). Exchangeable and acid soluble fractions did not retain significant quantities of metals. In the soil from the processing pond, the reducible fraction had a high concentration of reducible Fe (21175 mg/kg) and Si (3070 mg/kg). The reducible fraction also had the highest concentration of Cr (15.85 mg/kg), Cu (41.53 mg/kg), Pb (8.0 mg/kg) and Zn (10.65 mg/kg) compared to the other fractions of this soil. For the control experiment, the concentration of Cu (77.3 mg/kg), Pb (10.8 mg/kg) and Zn (24.1 mg/kg) were higher than contaminated soil yet lower for Cr (6.05 mg/kg). From these experiments, it can be concluded that the pristine soils studied have a limited ability to retain heavy metals in the non-bioavailable fraction, and, due to the nature of AMD, they are not effective in retaining metals sufficiently. The findings of this study suggest that the capacity of these pristine soils to buffer pH and retain metals is greatly limited. This could be as a result of (1) the low clay content, (2) the low concentration of secondary carbonates and (3) the low pH of the soil. The leaching of AMD from the pond is thus not regulated by the soils and poses a risk for nearby water resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Okiep Koper Distrik, geleë in die noord-westelike hoek van Suid-Afrika, is ‘n streek waar mynbou al vir meer as 150 jaar plaasvind. Die meeste mynbou aktiwiteite is gestaak, maar jare van mynbou het die streek nagelaat met verskeie verlate mynbouterreine. Sure, wat in die prosessering van erts gebruik word, en suurmynwater wat gegenereer word uit die mynuitskot (gesamentlik verwys na as suurmynwater) is ‘n besoedelingsrisiko vir waterbronne en biodiversiteit in hierdie dorre area. Die studie fokus op ‘n verlate koper prosesserings aanleg naby die dorpie Nababeep. Die logingsdam is nie geseël nie en is uitgegrawe in vlak, kolluviale grond. Die natuurlike gronde van hierdie area is vlak (60 cm) (WRB – Arenosol; SA – Oakleaf). Formasies van weggevrete graniet-gneis rotse in die opgaardam is ‘n aanduiding van die bytende potensiaal van hierdie suurmynwater. Suurmynwater was versamel in die dam gedurendie die droë seisoen in die mees gekonsentreerde vorm. Die suurmynwater het besonderse hoë konsentrasies van Al (26.9 g/l), Fe (42.9 g/l), Mg (20.5 g/l), Cu (3.8 g/l) en Mn (3.4 g/l). Melanteriet (FeSO4·7H2O) is ‘n ysterhoudende verbinding en, alhoewel dit oplosbaar is, speel dit ‘n belangrike rol in die onmiddelike vrylating van Fe en sulfate. Die onversteurde grond het ‘n sand tekstuur (2–5.2 % klei). Die minerale wat in die klei fraksie ge-identifiseer is sluit illiet, kaoliniet, montmorilloniet en kwarts in. Die ongerepte gronde dui egter op ‘n mate van besoedeling deurdat dit ‘n lae pH (4.38–4.77) enhoë Cu en sulfaat inhoud het. Die grond wat geleë is naby die prosesseringsaanleg en ook blootgestel is aan suurmynwater vir ‘n verlengde tyd, dui daarop dat swak kristallyne fases teenwoordig is in die grond. Dit word bevestig deur ‘n verbreding van die XRD pieke van kleiminerale. Versadiging indekse (VI), wat bepaal is in versadigde grondekstraksies van die damgrond, ondersteun die oplossing van die silikaatkleie en word gereflekteer deur VI waardes wissel tussen –1.3 en –11.77 vir illiet en –4.76 tot 0.58 vir kaoliniet. Jarosiet is ‘n nuwe fase wat gevorm het in die besoedelde grond en is ‘n sink vir K. Langtermyn verweringseksperimente wat gedoen is deur die onversteurde grond bloot te stel aan suurmynwater wys beduidende verwering en verandering van klei-minerale deur verbreding van die XRD pieke. Fourier transform infrarooi (FTIR) spektra is op kleimonsters van die verweerde grond gegenereer. Amorfe fases is bevestig deur gestruktureerde waterbindings met frekwensies tussen 3700 en 3300 cm−1 vir suurbehandelde grond. Metaal-vasleggings eksperimente is uitgevoer deur herhaaldelik die onversteurde grond aan die suurmynwater bloot te stel. Yster is die metaal wat hoofsaaklik in die grond vasgehou is. Metale soos Al, Mn, Na, K, Ca en Co was vrygestel in oplossing deur die grond. Die vrylating van Si deur die grond word geassosiëer met die oplossing van kleiminerale. Die onversteurde grond toon beperkte vermoë om suur te neutraliseer en metale te bind in die grond wanneer dit met suurmynwater geloog word. Metale was hoofsaaklik ge-ekstraëer in die wateroplosbare fase vir die langtermyn verweringsbehandelings. Aluminium was die mees mobiele fraksie wat ontrek is van die water oplosbare fraksie (2035 mg/kg). Uituilbare en suuroplosbare fraksies het nie ‘n groot hoeveelheid metale vasgehou nie. Gronde wat versamel is naby die prosesseringsdam het die hoë konsentrasies vanFe (21175 mg/kg) en Si (3070 mg/kg) in die gereduseerde fraksie gehad. Die reduserende fraksie het ook die hoogste konsentrasie van Cr (15.85 mg/kg), Cu (41.53 mg/kg), Pb (8.0 mg/kg) en Zn (10.65 mg/kg) gehad in vergelyking met ander fraksies in die grond. Vir die beheer eksperiment was die konsentrasie van Cu (77.3 mg/kg), Pb (10.8 mg/kg) en Zn (24.1 mg/kg) hoër as in die besoedelde grond en laer vir Cr (6.05 mg/kg). Dus kan daar van hierdie eksperimente afgelei word dat die onversteurde grond beperkte kapasiteit het om swaar metale in grond vas te hou in die nie-biobeskikbare fraksie. As gevolg van die aard van die suurmynwater, is die grond nie voldoende om die metale effektief in grond te behou nie. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie dui daarop dat die kapasiteit van die ongerepte grond om pH te buffer en metale in grond te behou baie beperk is. Dit kan toegeskryf word aan die lae kleiinhoud, lae konsentrasie van sekondêre karbonate en die lae pH van die grond. Die loging van suurmynwater van die logingsdam is dus nie gereguleer deur die gronde nie en stel die naasliggende waterbronne in gevaar.