A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Phytoremeditation of mine tailings provides the most cost-effective means of alleviating their pollutant effects. Research has shown that successful revegetation of mine tailings can be optimised by providing appropriate microbial symbionts for the plants. The aim of this study was to assess the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) status of trees currently being used for phytoremediation trials of mine tailings in the Welkom gold fields, and to determine the AM fungal diversity of these sites. The Acacia spp. analysed were growing on rehabilitated gold and uranium mine tailings which had undergone different rehabilitation regimes. Planted acacia trees which had been inoculated with crude AM fungal inocula were present on one mine tailing site as compared to the second mine tailing site on which the acacias were naturally colonisers and the site had been ameliorated with garden refuse. Root and slime samples were collected in early spring and half if each initial sample was used immediately for colonisation analysis and to identify AM fungi through molecular analysis of the small subunit rRNS gene sequences; the other half of each sample was used to produce trap cultures which were used later for colonisation and molecular analysis. Total AM fungal colonisation of initial samples for planted acacies was 19 % and for naturally colonising acacias was 66 %. The total AM fungal colonisation of trap culture samples for planted acacias increased to 32 % and for naturallhy colonising acacias it increased to 78 %. Spore counts of initial samples averaged 402 spores per 100 g-1 soil for planted acacias and 455 spores per 100 g-1 soil for naturally colonising acacias. For trap culture samples, spore counts decreased by approximately 50 %. The AM fungi identified fell within 8 genera, namely, Diversispora, Rhizophagus, Scutellospora, Claroideoglomus, Cetraspora, Sclerocystis, Glomus and Redecker. The study represents a first report utilising molecular biosystematics with AM fungal DNA from colonised roots as the template. The results will assist in making decisions about future AM fungal surveys and applying AM fungal inoculum in phytoremediation trials of mine waste sites. Key words: Phytoremediation, mine tailings, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Acacia, molecular identification, SSU rRNA gene sequence

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2016 / It is of great importance to minimize misclassification of ore and waste during grade control for a mine operation. This research report compares two recoverable reserve estimation techniques for ore classification for Kayelekera Uranium Mine. The research was performed on two data sets taken from the pit with different grade distributions. The two techniques evaluated were Sequential Gaussian Simulation and Ordinary Kriging. A comparison of the estimates from these techniques was done to investigate which method gives more accurate estimates. Based on the results from profits and loss, grade tonnage curves the difference between the techniques is very low. It was concluded that similarity in the estimates were due to Sequential Gaussian Simulation estimates were from an average of 100 simulation which turned out to be similar to Ordinary Kriging. Additionally, similarities in the estimates were due to the close spaced intervals of the blast hole/sample data used. Whilst OK generally produced acceptable results like SGS, the local variability of grades was not adequately reproduced by the technique. Subsequently, if variability is not much of a concern, like if large blocks were to be mined, then either technique can be used and yield similar results. / M T 2016

A bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão das Antas inicia-se na represa das Antas, construída em 1982. A represa das Antas recebe os efluentes tratados da UTM (Unidade de Tratamento de Minério), procedentes de drenagens ácidas geradas em pilhas de rejeitos de urânio. Foi realizada a caracterização limnologica deste corpo aquático visando a determinar o impacto ambiental causado por efluente de mina de urânio lançados pela UTM sobre a represa das Antas. Realizou-se coletas de água durante 1 ano nos pontos Cabeceira-Cab, P41, P14Superfície-P14S e P14Fundo-P14F, sendo avaliadas as variáveis físicas, químicas e biológicas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos para o Índice de estado trófico este corpo aquático foi classificado como oligotrófico e para o Índice de saprobidade foi considerado betamesosapróbico com qualidade da água Classe II. Os resultados das análises químicas mostraram teores elevados de fluoreto, manganês, zinco e sulfato no P41 seguido dos pontos P14S e P14F, estando acima do permitido pela legislação vigente para água de classe II. Estes resultados indicaram possível falha no sistema de tratamento de efluentes desta instalação nuclear e possível impacto ambiental, uma vez que, os menores valores de Índice de diversidade e biomassa média para o protozooplâncton foram detectados no ponto P41. / Ribeirão das Antas hidrographic basin starts on Antas reservoir which was built in 1982. The Antas reservoir receives treated effluents from the UTM (Mineral Unit Treatment), from acid mine drainage generated in piles of uranium waste. Limnological characterization of this aquatic body was done to determine the environmental impact caused by uranium mine effluents. Sampling campaigns were made during one year at the Cab, P41, P14S, and P14F points. Physical, chemical, and biological variables were evaluated. According with the Tropic State Index results obtained this aquatic body was classified as oligotrophic and the saprobity Index classified the water as betamesosaprobic, class II water quality. These results show failures in this nuclear installation effluent treatment system and possible environmental impact, since lower diversity index values and protozooplankton average biomass were detected at P41 point.

Beim Bergbau werden bestehende Ökosysteme in großem Maße beeinflusst. Im ehemaligen Uranbergwerk Königstein (Sachsen) wurde die Umwelt durch den Einsatz von chemischen Säuren zur Lösung des Urans aus dem Erz (Laugung) in Folge der Verschiebung des pH-Wertes zusätzlich belastet. Durch diesen Prozess entstand eine Umgebung, die einen niedrigen pH-Wert und hohe Konzentrationen an gelösten Schwermetall-Ionen aufweist. Die komplexe mikrobielle Lebensgemeinschaft verschob sich daraufhin, indem sich bevorzugt säuretolerante und Schwermetall-tolerante Mikroorganismen durchsetzten. Diese Mikroorganismen wurden durch die Flutung der unter Tage Schächte im Jahr 2010 in ihrer Zusammensetzung erneut beeinflusst. In dieser Arbeit wurde die mikrobielle Biozönose nach Flutung der unter Tage Schächte des ehemaligen Uranbergwerkes Königstein charakterisiert und mit den Ergebnissen der mikrobiellen Diversität vor dem Flutungsprozess verglichen. Hierfür kam ein breites Spektrum an Methoden zum Einsatz, das klassische mikrobiologische Methoden und molekularbiologische Techniken umfasste. Die Analysen erfolgten dabei über mehrere Jahre hinweg, um die Variabilität der mikrobiellen Population im Grubenwasser planktonisch und im Biofilm zu erfassen.

A bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão das Antas inicia-se na represa das Antas, construída em 1982. A represa das Antas recebe os efluentes tratados da UTM (Unidade de Tratamento de Minério), procedentes de drenagens ácidas geradas em pilhas de rejeitos de urânio. Foi realizada a caracterização limnologica deste corpo aquático visando a determinar o impacto ambiental causado por efluente de mina de urânio lançados pela UTM sobre a represa das Antas. Realizou-se coletas de água durante 1 ano nos pontos Cabeceira-Cab, P41, P14Superfície-P14S e P14Fundo-P14F, sendo avaliadas as variáveis físicas, químicas e biológicas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos para o Índice de estado trófico este corpo aquático foi classificado como oligotrófico e para o Índice de saprobidade foi considerado betamesosapróbico com qualidade da água Classe II. Os resultados das análises químicas mostraram teores elevados de fluoreto, manganês, zinco e sulfato no P41 seguido dos pontos P14S e P14F, estando acima do permitido pela legislação vigente para água de classe II. Estes resultados indicaram possível falha no sistema de tratamento de efluentes desta instalação nuclear e possível impacto ambiental, uma vez que, os menores valores de Índice de diversidade e biomassa média para o protozooplâncton foram detectados no ponto P41. / Ribeirão das Antas hidrographic basin starts on Antas reservoir which was built in 1982. The Antas reservoir receives treated effluents from the UTM (Mineral Unit Treatment), from acid mine drainage generated in piles of uranium waste. Limnological characterization of this aquatic body was done to determine the environmental impact caused by uranium mine effluents. Sampling campaigns were made during one year at the Cab, P41, P14S, and P14F points. Physical, chemical, and biological variables were evaluated. According with the Tropic State Index results obtained this aquatic body was classified as oligotrophic and the saprobity Index classified the water as betamesosaprobic, class II water quality. These results show failures in this nuclear installation effluent treatment system and possible environmental impact, since lower diversity index values and protozooplankton average biomass were detected at P41 point.

Beim Bergbau werden bestehende Ökosysteme in großem Maße beeinflusst. Im ehemaligen Uranbergwerk Königstein (Sachsen) wurde die Umwelt durch den Einsatz von chemischen Säuren zur Lösung des Urans aus dem Erz (Laugung) in Folge der Verschiebung des pH-Wertes zusätzlich belastet. Durch diesen Prozess entstand eine Umgebung, die einen niedrigen pH-Wert und hohe Konzentrationen an gelösten Schwermetall-Ionen aufweist. Die komplexe mikrobielle Lebensgemeinschaft verschob sich daraufhin, indem sich bevorzugt säuretolerante und Schwermetall-tolerante Mikroorganismen durchsetzten. Diese Mikroorganismen wurden durch die Flutung der unter Tage Schächte im Jahr 2010 in ihrer Zusammensetzung erneut beeinflusst. In dieser Arbeit wurde die mikrobielle Biozönose nach Flutung der unter Tage Schächte des ehemaligen Uranbergwerkes Königstein charakterisiert und mit den Ergebnissen der mikrobiellen Diversität vor dem Flutungsprozess verglichen. Hierfür kam ein breites Spektrum an Methoden zum Einsatz, das klassische mikrobiologische Methoden und molekularbiologische Techniken umfasste. Die Analysen erfolgten dabei über mehrere Jahre hinweg, um die Variabilität der mikrobiellen Population im Grubenwasser planktonisch und im Biofilm zu erfassen.