Protocol Booklet for Assessment of the Acid Forming Potential of Mine Waste Materials

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is produced by the exposure of sulphide minerals such as pyrite to atmospheric oxygen and water. The ability to identify in advance any mine materials that could potentially produce ARD is essential for timely implementation of mine waste management strategies for ARD control.

A number of procedures have been developed to determine the acid forming characteristics of mine waste materials. The most widely used assessment methods for ARD characterization are the Acid-Base Account (ABA) and the Net Acid Generation (NAG) test. These methods are referred to as static procedures because each involves a single measurement in time.