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Surface Water Quality at Boete Slimes Dam, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Obuasi

Published: 2 April 2013
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Abstract

Mining activities around the Boete Slimes Dam (BSD) of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, and its likely impact on surface water quality around the BSD, was investigated. Analyses of samples taken from Pompo stream and Kwabrafo stream and the confluence of the two streams draining the Boete Slimes Dam area showed that Conductivity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sulphate (SO42-), Cyanide (CN), and Arsenic (As) had values higher than EPA Guideline values,whiles Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) and Iron (Fe) were within acceptable range. Comparison of calculated and measured levels of conservative parameters at the confluence of the two streams using the mixing zone model corresponded well with a regression coefficient of between 0.79 and 0.93. The paper concluded that there is negative impact of the activities at Boete on the quality of Kwabrafo stream. The study also revealed that the company could save at least $1776 per sampling point annually since sampling at the confluence of the two streams could be suspended.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 1, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13
Page(s) 53-57
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mining, Surface Water, Slimes Dam, Mixing Zone

References
[1] A. Amanor, and W.A. Gyapong, (2000), ‘Geology of Ashanti GoldfieldsCompany, Obuasi, Unpublished Report, pp. 1 – 24
[2] G. Foli, "Physico-Chemical Evaluation of some Mining Impacted Water Bodies within Obuasi Environment", MPhil Project Report, University of Ghana Legon, Accra , pp. 27 – 69.(2004),
[3] L. H, Hartman,S. G. Britton, D.W Gentry,MKarmis, J. M, Mutmansky, W. J.Schlitt, M. M.Singh, (SME)"Mining Engineering" 2nd Edition Volume 2,(1996)pp.1467 – 1470.
[4] Anon, "Homase Project Environmental Impact Statement", Environmental Department Report of Ashanti Goldfields Company2001,
[5] S. Osae, K. Kase, and M. Yamamoto,Ore Mineralogy and Mineral Chemistry of the Ashanti Gold Deposit at Obuasi, Ghana. Resource Geology, 1999.49(1): p. 1-11.
[6] L Shehong, Z Baoshan, Z.Jianming, and Y.Xiaoying, "The distribution and natural degradation of cyanide in goldmine tailings and polluted soil in arid and semiarid areas". Environmental Geology, 2005a 47(8):1150-1154.
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  • APA Style

    S. A. Ndur, N. A. Amegbey. (2013). Surface Water Quality at Boete Slimes Dam, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Obuasi. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 1(2), 53-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13

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    ACS Style

    S. A. Ndur; N. A. Amegbey. Surface Water Quality at Boete Slimes Dam, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Obuasi. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2013, 1(2), 53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13

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    AMA Style

    S. A. Ndur, N. A. Amegbey. Surface Water Quality at Boete Slimes Dam, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Obuasi. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2013;1(2):53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13,
      author = {S. A. Ndur and N. A. Amegbey},
      title = {Surface Water Quality at Boete Slimes Dam, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Obuasi},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {1},
      number = {2},
      pages = {53-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20130102.13},
      abstract = {Mining activities around the Boete Slimes Dam (BSD) of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, and its likely impact on surface water quality around the BSD, was investigated. Analyses of samples taken from Pompo stream and Kwabrafo stream and the confluence of the two streams draining the  Boete Slimes Dam area showed that Conductivity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sulphate (SO42-), Cyanide (CN), and Arsenic (As) had values higher than EPA Guideline values,whiles Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) and Iron (Fe) were within acceptable range. Comparison of calculated and measured levels of conservative parameters at the confluence of the two streams using the mixing zone model corresponded well with a regression coefficient of between 0.79 and 0.93. The paper concluded that there is negative impact of the activities at Boete on the quality of Kwabrafo stream. The study also revealed that the company could save at least $1776 per sampling point annually since sampling at the confluence of the two streams could be suspended.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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    AU  - S. A. Ndur
    AU  - N. A. Amegbey
    Y1  - 2013/04/02
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.13
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    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
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    AB  - Mining activities around the Boete Slimes Dam (BSD) of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, and its likely impact on surface water quality around the BSD, was investigated. Analyses of samples taken from Pompo stream and Kwabrafo stream and the confluence of the two streams draining the  Boete Slimes Dam area showed that Conductivity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sulphate (SO42-), Cyanide (CN), and Arsenic (As) had values higher than EPA Guideline values,whiles Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) and Iron (Fe) were within acceptable range. Comparison of calculated and measured levels of conservative parameters at the confluence of the two streams using the mixing zone model corresponded well with a regression coefficient of between 0.79 and 0.93. The paper concluded that there is negative impact of the activities at Boete on the quality of Kwabrafo stream. The study also revealed that the company could save at least $1776 per sampling point annually since sampling at the confluence of the two streams could be suspended.
    VL  - 1
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Author Information
  • Department of Mineral Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, PO Box 237,Tarkwa, Ghana

  • Department of Mineral Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, PO Box 237,Tarkwa, Ghana

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