I occurs to me that the media hasn't picked up on the possible ramifications of the Hungary disaster for Queensland's Wild Rivers mining debate...

The Hungary disaster has contaminated the environment for many kilometres far and wide - and meantime Aussies are still debating the pissy buffer zone for the proposed Bauxite mine in an otherwise-pristine high rainfall 'wild rivers' environment...

Whilst I appreciate, that the mining involves the raw material and the Hungary incident involves an industrial bi-product, the disaster in Hungary may prove relevant to the decision over the Bauxite mining here...

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/hungary-toxic-sludge-spill-reaches-danube-20101007-169ov.html


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Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches Danube Geza Molnar October 7, 2010 Hungary's toxic sludge spill, which has killed four people, reached the Danube river Thursday, threatening to contaminate the waterway's entire ecosystem, officials told AFP. "The red mud pollution has reached the Danube -- its so-called Mosoni Branch, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the main branch of the river -- this morning," said Tibor Dobson, the local head of the disaster relief services. "At 09:27 am (0727 GMT), the pH level stood at 9.3. The experts are still measuring the pollution levels and the pH levels are descending." Water authority official Jozsef Toth told AFP earlier that samples taken at the confluence of the Raba river and the Danube showed "alkalinity slightly above normal, with a pH value of 8.96-9.07," against a normal tally of 8.0. On a scale of 1-14, pH values of 1-6 are acid, between 6 and 8 are neutral, and readings of 8-14 are alkaline. A wave of toxic mud was unleashed Monday from the reservoir of an alumina plant at Ajka, 160 kilometres (100 miles) west of Budapest. The red mud travelled down the Raba river and reached the Danube waters at around 0630 GMT at Gyor. The industrial accident triggered by the collapse of walls at the factory reservoir on Monday has been described as an ecological disaster and is now threatening the entire ecosystem of the Danube, Europe's second longest river which runs from Hungary through Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine before flowing into the Black Sea. Three adults and a child died when the tidal wave of mud smashed into surrounding villages on Monday. More than 120 people were injured, suffering from burns, and three people are still missing. At two of the hardest hit villages, Devecser and Kolontar, water samples from the river Torna, which flows into the Raba, showed pH levels of around 10 on Thursday, but these were falling, Dobson said. On Monday, after the accident happened, the reading was pH 13.5. Dobson said neutralising efforts, using acid and gypsum, were helping to bring the pH levels down. Groundwater in the wells in the region showed neutral readings of pH 7.5. Earlier, Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Kolontar -- where all four victims died -- to see the extent of the destruction. The mud -- a residue from aluminium production which is highly corrosive and contains toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and chromium -- destroyed all vegetation other than trees and seeped into hundreds of houses in villages. Witnesses say the force of the wave was so strong that cars were sucked out from their garages and it tore out windows and doors, covering everything. A bridge in Kolontar was swept away and the army had to build a temporary one to replace it. Orban suggested reconstruction could be very problematic. "Unfortunately, my impression is that any reconstruction, beyond the bridge, would be useless. "It'll probably be necessary to clear a new area for the villages and pull down the destroyed part for good. It'll be impossible for people to live here," Orban said.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s3031348.htm


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Fierce debate over the future of Cape York Broadcast: 06/10/2010 Transcript KERRY O’BRIEN, PRESENTER: After years of controversy an attempt by Opposition leader Tony Abbott to overturn Queensland's Wild Rivers legislation failed in Federal Parliament a week ago, with Labor referring the matter to a committee. But the controversial laws continue to polarise the community. [...] From far north Queensland, Peter McCutcheon reports. PETER MCCUTCHEON, REPORTER: The Wenlock River on Cape York Peninsula is one of the most remote and pristine rivers in Australia, if not the world. Its natural beauty and environmental value is not in dispute. But Queensland's Wild Rivers legislation placing stringent controls over use of surrounding land, certainly is. [...] PETER MCCUTCHEON: Queensland's strict environmental laws introduced five years ago are facing their biggest test, with the potential collapse of a major project in a region desperate for economic development. PAUL MESSENGER, CAPE ALUMINA: The project has been seriously jeopardised and has a high possibility that it will be uneconomic in any form. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Dr Paul Messenger is the managing director of Cape alumina, a company listed on the Australian stock exchange in 2009 and backed by one of China's largest aluminium producers. The 7.30 Report accompanied Dr Messenger on a trip to the Pisolite Hills bauxite exploration lease on Cape York. PAUL MESSENGER: It's a sizeable deposit and it’s sufficient to sustain a mining operation for 15 years at full production of 7 million tonnes per annum. So it would make Cape Alumina one of the ten largest bauxite producers in the world. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Although the proposed bauxite mine would be in open woodland at least several kilometres away from the Wenlock river - the project is within the catchment of this remote waterway. And so under Queensland's Wild Rivers legislation, it is subject to some of the toughest environmental laws in the country. STEPHEN ROBERTSON: We're talking about some of our last remaining pristine river systems. Once they're gone, they're gone. You'll never get them back. PETER MCCUTCHEON: The most environmentally sensitive part bordering this proposed mine project are these freshwater springs known the Coolibah Springs complex. They lie just below the bauxite plateau and play a vital role in maintaining the small pockets of rainforest that stretch from east to west across Cape York. BARRY LYON, RANGER, AUSTRALIA ZOO: They're of really great ecological significance. There's a whole range of rare and threatened plant species and wildlife species. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Most of these springs lie within a pastoral lease owned by Australia Zoo. Zoo owner Terri Irwin and her family, along with the Wilderness Society, have been leading the campaign against mining. TERRI IRWIN, AUSTRALIA ZOO (Channel 10, September 2010): While I believe we need mining and I understand the need for it, I just don't think we need to mine the most delicate, fragile areas on the planet. BOB IRWIN JUNIOR, AUSTRALIA ZOO (Channel 10, September 2010): It's one of the most terrible things and I just think it's just the worst thing ever. I really don't like it. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Australia zoo ranger Barry Lyon showed the 7.30 Report around the property and explained how he believed bauxite mining could destroy an environmental wonder. BARRY LYON: We risk losing the special Coolibah Springs because they're rejuvenated by rainfall that falls across that bauxite plateau. We're really worried that taking the bauxite away will lose that recharging ability, so the springs may die. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Cape Alumina disputes this claim, as does an independent consultant commissioned by the Queensland's environment department. The consultant concluded that on the evidence so far - VOICEOVER (Reading report by RPS Group, March 30, 2010): Bauxite mining as proposed will have relatively little impact on the groundwater hydrology of the springs. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Cape Alumina wanted its operation to be at least 200 metres away from the springs. The Queensland mines department recommended the buffer zone be at least 300 metres. But the minister Stephen Robertson decided to set to figure at 500 metres. (to Stephen Robertson) Your department recommended a buffer zone of at least 300 metres around Coolibah Springs. Why did you personally add another 200 metres to that buffer zone? STEPHEN ROBERTSON: Simply by taking the precautionary approach. It was only after I actually travelled to the Wenlock myself- it was only then that I gained a real appreciation of the scale and type of environment that was seeking Wild River declaration. PETER MCCUTCHEON: Cape Alumina says this arbitrary buffer zone has in effect locked away around 20 million tonnes of bauxite on the basis of no scientific evidence. PAUL MESSENGER: It's effectively rendered inaccessible a substantial portion of the resource that we've defined. At least 38 per cent of the resource is not now mineable. But this dispute is not only about the environment. [...]

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-31010-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html


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Chapter 7. Environmental Management in the Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum Industry in Brazil [...] Nature and extent of environmental degradation The three phases of this industry — bauxite mining and exploration, refining, and smelting — can each have many effects that are potentially hazardous to the environment. But before addressing these concerns, I will briefly consider the production process, as described by Warhurst (1991a, p. 23):    Bauxite is the raw material from which alumina is extracted. Bauxite occurs in a small number of high-grade deposits mainly within a tropical zone extending up to 20 degrees north and south of the equator. The technology of alumina production varies with type of bauxite ores which fall into three groups: Monohydrate bauxite is generally found in boehmite in Europe and northern Asia and is processed using a European version of the American Bayer process (described below); Trihydrate bauxite is found as gibbsite in Surinam, Guyana, Guinea, Ghana and Australia and is processed by the American Bayer process. The Jamaican type of bauxite is characterized by a mixture of gibbsite and boehmite and is found in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is processed using a method which combines elements of the European and American Bayer process.    The basic Bayer process involves the following operations… . Dried, ground bauxite is mixed in a large digester vessel with caustic soda which dissolves the aluminum oxide under strong pressure. Impurities, such as iron oxide and silica, are filtrated out in their solid state. Then the sodium aluminate liquor is seeded with hydrated alumina crystals and part of the solution combines with the "seeds" to form alumina hydrate crystals. These are then calcinated in long rotary kilns under high temperatures. This leaves calcinated aluminum as a white powder which is then ready for transformation into aluminum metal. On average, 2.25 tonnes of bauxite generates one tonne of powder.    Finally, aluminum is separated from its oxide by the highly energy-intensive Hall–Heroult process. The process takes place in carbon-lined reduction cells. First, alumina is dissolved in a molten salt called cryolite to which aluminum fluoride is added continuously to maintain the required density, conductibility and viscosity. Second, a carbon anode is lowered into the solution causing a continuous electric current to pass through the mixture to the carbon cell lining, which acts as the cathode. This causes the dissolved alumina to separate out into aluminum metal and oxygen, and since the former is heavy it is attracted by the cathode to the bottom of the pot, while the oxygen settles on the carbon anode to form carbon dioxide. The molten aluminum in the pot is syphoned into crucibles and transferred to alloying furnaces to make alloys. Finally, the metal is cast in an ingot mould. The potential hazardous impacts of these processes can be divided into those strictly affecting the physical and natural environment and those of a socioeconomic nature (UNEP 1984). Mining In ore mining, the environmental effects are highly site specific, but, on the whole, the main impact comes from clearing the vegetation in bauxite mining, exploration, and mine development. A secondary effect is that brought about by the dumping of wastes or the inadequate management of tailings. This can degrade the habitat of local flora and fauna and make future land use difficult for reforestation, agriculture, or cattle breeding. Mining can also affect local water and air quality. For example, with the removal of overburden, runoff can become contaminated, more acidic, and more turbid. Erosion within the mined areas can be rapid if the soil is not recovered and reforested. The removal of vegetation can then bring about loss of flora and fauna, destruction of wildlife habitats, a possible spread of plant disease, increased soil erosion, changes in weather conditions, dust, and a possible need for runoff water treatment. In open-cast or surface mining, the areas cleared of vegetation may disrupt the landscape and produce a negative visual impact. Beyond this, fugitive dust and noise from heavy machinery and explosives may be a source of disruption in the external environment for nearby communities and a health hazard in the working environment. Adverse socioeconomic impacts depend largely on the proximity of the mines to established communities. Impacts can include breakup of cultural traditions, lifestyles, and kinship groups; substantive changes in agricultural crops, techniques, and marketing resulting from weather and soil disruptions; and lack of infrastructure, other employment opportunities, housing, and educational and recreational facilities for the personnel.

Equitist wrote on Oct 10^th, 2010 at 9:56am:

I occurs to me that the media hasn't picked up on the possible ramifications of the Hungary disaster for Queensland's Wild Rivers mining debate... The Hungary disaster has contaminated the environment for many kilometres far and wide - and meantime Aussies are still debating the pissy buffer zone for the proposed Bauxite mine in an otherwise-pristine high rainfall 'wild rivers' environment... Whilst I appreciate, that the mining involves the raw material and the Hungary incident involves an industrial bi-product, the disaster in Hungary may prove relevant to the decision over the Bauxite mining here...

Yeah, there is no caustic soda involved with Bauxite mining, so it's not the same deal as Hungary. Bauxite from Weipa and any new bauxite mines would be shipped to Alumina refineries like the two in Gladstone, Queensland.  

I conducted an environmental audit of an Alumina refinery back in the 90's.

muso wrote on Oct 10^th, 2010 at 2:35pm:

Equitist wrote on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:56am: I occurs to me that the media hasn't picked up on the possible ramifications of the Hungary disaster for Queensland's Wild Rivers mining debate... The Hungary disaster has contaminated the environment for many kilometres far and wide - and meantime Aussies are still debating the pissy buffer zone for the proposed Bauxite mine in an otherwise-pristine high rainfall 'wild rivers' environment... Whilst I appreciate, that the mining involves the raw material and the Hungary incident involves an industrial bi-product, the disaster in Hungary may prove relevant to the decision over the Bauxite mining here... Yeah, there is no caustic soda involved with Bauxite mining, so it's not the same deal as Hungary. Bauxite from Weipa and any new bauxite mines would be shipped to Alumina refineries like the two in Gladstone, Queensland.   I conducted an environmental audit of an Alumina refinery back in the 90's.

Yeah I was wondering about that....the Hungarian sludge contains arsenic and chromium........but as far as i can see arsenic isn't used in the processing...

Is it possible the Bauxite deposits themselves contain the arsenic and chromium???

gizmo_2655 wrote on Oct 10^th, 2010 at 3:38pm:

muso wrote on Oct 10th, 2010 at 2:35pm: Equitist wrote on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:56am: I occurs to me that the media hasn't picked up on the possible ramifications of the Hungary disaster for Queensland's Wild Rivers mining debate... The Hungary disaster has contaminated the environment for many kilometres far and wide - and meantime Aussies are still debating the pissy buffer zone for the proposed Bauxite mine in an otherwise-pristine high rainfall 'wild rivers' environment... Whilst I appreciate, that the mining involves the raw material and the Hungary incident involves an industrial bi-product, the disaster in Hungary may prove relevant to the decision over the Bauxite mining here... Yeah, there is no caustic soda involved with Bauxite mining, so it's not the same deal as Hungary. Bauxite from Weipa and any new bauxite mines would be shipped to Alumina refineries like the two in Gladstone, Queensland.   I conducted an environmental audit of an Alumina refinery back in the 90's. Yeah I was wondering about that....the Hungarian sludge contains arsenic and chromium........but as far as i can see arsenic isn't used in the processing... Is it possible the Bauxite deposits themselves contain the arsenic and chromium???

Well I was surprised at that report too. I put it down to the usual misreporting of technical issues by journalists.

Everything including soil contains arsenic and chromium (it's just a question of concentration), but the strange thing about this is case is that "red mud" has an incredible capacity to absorb and immobilise heavy metals and arsenic. In fact they were investigating a process of using red mud for a new technology for cleaning up pollutants a few years ago.  It was in the local Gladstone press.

The use of caustic chemicals is not involved in the mining of the ore (bauxite), but in the refining stage that turns bauxite into alumina (Aluminium oxide).

We have refineries in several places, with more planned. One big one is on Boyne Island near Gladstone, and the caustic red mud pond is 3.5 kilometres long, and very close to the sea. This area is not in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park because the Gladstone port area is excised from the park, but the fish don't know that.
see .peakoil.org.au/dave.kimble/abbotpoint/gladstone.redmud.jpg

If a huge downpour was to fill the pond and overtop the wall, it could easily breach the wall and the whole toxic mess would be in the sea in no time.

Another refinery is planned as part of the Chalco development at Abbot Point near Bowen in North Queensland, alongside the coal-loading jetty. Again, this would be right on the edge of the sea, with no possibility of stopping a flood of toxic mud.

Dave Kimble wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 9:47am:

The use of caustic chemicals is not involved in the mining of the ore (bauxite), but in the refining stage that turns bauxite into alumina (Aluminium oxide). We have refineries in several places, with more planned. One big one is on Boyne Island near Gladstone, and the caustic red mud pond is 3.5 kilometres long, and very close to the sea. This area is not in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park because the Gladstone port area is excised from the park, but the fish don't know that. see .peakoil.org.au/dave.kimble/abbotpoint/gladstone.redmud.jpg If a huge downpour was to fill the pond and overtop the wall, it could easily breach the wall and the whole toxic mess would be in the sea in no time. Another refinery is planned as part of the Chalco development at Abbot Point near Bowen in North Queensland, alongside the coal-loading jetty. Again, this would be right on the edge of the sea, with no possibility of stopping a flood of toxic mud.

Well seawater actually treats caustic waste pretty effectively. Any residual hydroxide is effectively converted to carbonates - magnesium and calcium.

The Queensland Alumina operation has been there since about 1967, and the fishing is still pretty good in the area.

- and welcome to the forum.

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Any residual hydroxide is effectively converted to carbonates - magnesium and calcium.

Well, before you could claim that, you would have to come up with an analysis of the red mud to at least ppm level - given that there are millions of tonnes of the stuff. These figures are hard to find, but according to the SMH quoting from a WA EPA document, the Alcoa refinery mud in WA contains 1,500 ppm Thorium, 300 ppm Chromium, 100 Barium, 50 Uranium, 25 ppm of (Arsenic+Copper+Zinc+Cobalt) and lesser amounts of Lead, Cadmium and Beryllium.

What is more, having gone through the chemical process, the tailings are very finely divided, offering a very large surface area and making them more reactive than they would have been in the original weathered soil.

I am sure the fish off Gladstone are currently thriving. The question though is what will they be like AFTER a major spill ? And what will be peoples' perceptions of buying those fish to feed to their children ?

The most galling thing is that we export 80% of the Aluminium produced in Australia, so the rest of the world gets the finished product, and we get to keep the toxic waste. Clever country.

Dave Kimble wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 3:29pm:

Quote: Any residual hydroxide is effectively converted to carbonates - magnesium and calcium. Well, before you could claim that, you would have to come up with an analysis of the red mud to at least ppm level - given that there are millions of tonnes of the stuff. These figures are hard to find, but according to the SMH quoting from a WA EPA document, the Alcoa refinery mud in WA contains 1,500 ppm Thorium, 300 ppm Chromium, 100 Barium, 50 Uranium, 25 ppm of (Arsenic+Copper+Zinc+Cobalt) and lesser amounts of Lead, Cadmium and Beryllium. What is more, having gone through the chemical process, the tailings are very finely divided, offering a very large surface area and making them more reactive than they would have been in the original weathered soil. I am sure the fish off Gladstone are currently thriving. The question though is what will they be like AFTER a major spill ? And what will be peoples' perceptions of buying those fish to feed to their children ? The most galling thing is that we export 80% of the Aluminium produced in Australia, so the rest of the world gets the finished product, and we get to keep the toxic waste. Clever country.

Yeah - The Alcoa material from WA is right next to a monazite deposit.

There is no significant monazite (mineral sands) at Weipa where QAL gets its Bauxite from.

Of course, you do know what the concentrations of these substances are in the mineral sands themselves? These are basically natural beach sands that are mined. Of course they separate the heavy minerals using HMS (Heavy Media Separation)

Red Mud is actually very effective at binding up heavy metal impurities in industrial wastes. It has been used successfully in one particular industrial lagoon applications that I know of.

The key factor in environmental toxicity is not so much the absolute content of some of these substances, but the mobility. The results you need to quote are the USEPA TCLP (Total characteristics Leaching Procedure) test.

This test works at a slightly acidic pH (around pH 4-5), so the results of the testing would be conservatively high. The pH of seawater is on the alkaline side (around pH 8.2)

Do you have TCLP results of treated red mud? I do. I've also walked on 'rehabilitated old red mud dams with vegetation growing on it.

It contains toxic substances, but the toxins are immobilised - a bit like that extremely toxic material we use to make roads - of course the toxic components of bitumen are immobilised too.  

Another thing - the Chromium result tells you nothing. You need to differentiate between Chrome III and Chrome VI.

I'm not cutting and pasting this by the way. I am a JAS-ANZ accredited Environmental auditor, although it's not my main role these days. I have audited both Alumina and mineral sands operations.

Dave Kimble wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 9:47am:

Another refinery is planned as part of the Chalco development at Abbot Point near Bowen in North Queensland, alongside the coal-loading jetty. Again, this would be right on the edge of the sea, with no possibility of stopping a flood of toxic mud.

I'm not familiar with the proposed Chalco development, but I know Abbot Point.  Actually that whole area is prone to flooding if you get a decent wet season, and it gets much wetter there and more often than in Gladstone.  

I would be asking a lot of questions about that development too.  

Bowen is a really nice spot. There are some beautiful pristine areas around Horseshoe Bay and also South around Hideaway Bay. I've sailed up that way.

There's a collection of maps and reports on Abbot Point State Development Area at
peakoil.org.au/dave.kimble/abbotpoint/abbotpoint.htm

Chalco failed to meet a deadline to produce the EIS for the refinery at Abbot Point on June 30, because of the state of the world market.
It would take the bauxite from their proposed mine at Aurukun.  They don't really want to do the refining in Australia anyway, probably due to the environmental constraints and the economics, but Queensland Government made that a condition of the Aurukun lease. Chalco then tried to strike a deal that their involvement in Gladstone's Yarwun-2 project should count instead, but QG said no, so they are now in a stand-off.

You can imagine how environmentally friendly Chalco is. They flew Gina Castelain from the Aurukun community to China to show her how their revegetated bauxite mines recover, and she came back against the project and a firm supporter of Wild Rivers protection.  Unfortunately the Aurukun project was exempted from the Wild Rivers Act from the beginning, due to it being an "existing project", even though the EIS has not been done.  More at
peakoil.org.au/dave.kimble/aurukun/aurukun.bauxite.htm

This section tells it all:


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During very wet periods parts of these flats may become temporarily inundated with brackish water and support emergent or aquatic beds.

I remember driving through there in 2003 (I think it was). That creek on the northern side of the proposed site was flooded.

All you could see from that straight section of the Bruce Highway was water everywhere.

There is no way anybody will approve that development. Not at that location at least.