Section Seven
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
D. MINING WASTES
70    USE OF A BIOLOGICAL MEANDER TREATMENT SYSTEM
FOR LEAD MINE/MILL WASTES IN SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI, U.S.A.
Mujde Z. Erten, Research Assistant
Jerome L. Pitt, Research Assistant
Civil Engineering Department
Nord L. Gale, Chairman
Life Sciences Department
University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla, Missouri 65401
Bobby G. Wixson, Dean
College of Sciences
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina 29634
Ed Hindenberger, Inorganic Group Leader
Environmental Trace Substance Research Center
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri 65211
INTRODUCTION
The "Viburnum Trend" or "The New Lead Belt" of southeastern Missouri continues to be a major
producer of the world's lead, accounting for 91% of the U.S. production in 1983, 86% in 1984, and
90% in 1985. Much of the rich ore body responsible for this intensive industrial activity lies within the
boundaries of the Mark Twain National Forest. Utilization of this resource is accompanied by deep
concern for the pristine surrounding environment and awareness of potential problems associated
with mining and processing of lead and other associated heavy metals.
Since development of the New Lead Belt began in the 1960's, industry has cooperated with state and
federal regulatory agencies and researchers of the University of Missouri to identify and utilize the
best available technology to treat the vast quantities of industrial wastes which are a consequence of
the minerals industry. Supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, state, federal and
various industrial agencies, a continuing program of environmental research activities has served to
collect data related to the impact of industrial development on the water, air, soils, flora and fauna of
the region and to document the dissemination of heavy metals from industrial sites. Many useful data
have been accumulated relative to the behavior of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd) within the set of
environmental conditions present in the Missouri Ozarks.
There are several mine/mill complexes which have operated or continue to operate in the New Lead
Belt. Each has its own unique characteristics and waste treatment problems, depending upon the size
of the operation, amount of water that must be removed from underground to dewater the mine,
types of concentrates made, specific milling procedures employed, amount of wastewater generated
etc. Each mill has at least one settling lagoon or tailings pond to treat the large amounts of rock slurry
created by modern hydrometallurgical procedures. Early studies indicated that for some operations, a
single tailings pond of appropriate size and residence time was sufficient to adequately remove
43rd Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, © 1989 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
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