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Several elements are commonly considered as potential environ- <br />mental polutants if present in significant quantities. The EP <br />toxicity test is designed to simulate the leaching of various elements <br />from the waste material by rain or acid mine drainage. This is <br />accomplished by an agitation leach test using a deionized water <br />leachate adjusted to a pH of 5.0 or less. <br />The acid producing reaction begins when iron sulfide minerals <br />exposed to air and water produce ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid. <br />Secondary reactions result when the ferric ions and sulfuric acid <br />interact with other minerals. Such secondary reactions produce <br />concentrations of other elements. Because of the complex chemical <br />nature of coal mine drainage it is impossible to assign its toxicity <br />to any single chemical constituent. <br />It can be calculated using pyrite-sulfuric acid stoichiometry <br />• that for material containing O.1B sulfur as pyrite, complete <br />oxidation will yield a quantity of sulfuric acid that will require <br />6,250 pounds of CaCO3 to neutralize one thousand tons of material. <br />It is probable that <br />SO4 will increase in Sta <br />dilution with water from <br />as they flow downstream; <br />tration. Traditionally, <br />in mine runoff water. <br />during periods of flow concentrations of <br />rkville Gulch water and only be reduced by <br />Raton Creek. Other elements may precipitate <br />thus reducing the total dissolved concen- <br />species such as 504 Mn, and Mg are elevated <br />The concentration of pollutants in water depends on (1) the <br />amount of polluting substances and (2) the volume of diluting water. <br />The volume of water for dilution in surface streams is seldon constant_ <br />However, since Raton Creek and Starkville Gulch may both be supplied <br />by ground water, the precipitation cycles are some what less important. <br />• <br />577 FISHER, HARDEN 6 FISHER <br />