A geochemical investigation of ground water and soils affected by evaporation pond seepage, at the Namakwa Sands Mineral Seperation Plant(MSP)

Bibliography: leaves 78-81. ; Evaporation ponds are used for treating wastewaters in arid regions worldwide. Namakwa Sands an Anglo American plc operation, mines heavy minerals along the semi arid West Coast of South Africa. An acid effluent is generated during treatment of these heavy minerals. The effluent is neutralized and disposed of into unlined evaporation ponds. Seepage from the ponds affects the surrounding environment as well as the subsurface waters. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the seepage on the groundwater resources and potential implications for contaminant migration in the subsurface environment.