Define chemical signatures from river waters collected in the Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Areas, South Africa. Samples were analysed for anion complexes using Ion Chromatography (IC) and major and trace element chemistry using quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (q-ICP-MS).

The availability of freshwater is one of the major development challenges that South Africa faces. South Africa is a water-scarce (semi-arid) country with rainfall distributed unevenly and away from the centres of major developments. The rainfall is tied to seasonal cycles that drive us repeatedly between floods and droughts. This paper serves to study the groundwater chemistry in light of the uranium mining that precedes shale gas fracking in the Karoo Uranium Province.

This paper presents data obtained from sampling and geochemical analysis of gold tailings and associated pool and drain water. Inverse geochemical modelling using PHREEQC indicated geochemical processes operating in the tailings between the pool and drains. These included pyrite oxidation and dissolution of various minerals identified in the tailings. The processes were incorporated into an ensemble geochemical model to calculate post-closure sulphate concentration in tailings seepage.

Mining site remnants are everlasting and impact the groundwater regime on a long term scale. An integrated approach to geoscience is necessary due to the complexity of nature and the unknown relationships that must be discovered to further the understanding of impacts on the natural environment. Furthermore, groundwater resources are negatively impacted by mining activities affecting the groundwater quality and quantity. Underground coal mining can be accompanied by roof failure events.

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an unconventional mining method that gasifies coal in situ to produce a synthetic gas that can be used for industrial purposes. This mining method is still to go commercial and one of the challenges to its sustainable development is the potential risk to groundwater pollution. There is therefore a need to quantify the environmental risks associated with UCG in order for authorities to regulate this emerging sector.