Column Percolation Extraction of Mine Rock by the Meteoric Water Mobility Procedure

E2242-13: Standard Test Method for Column Percolation Extraction of Mine Rock by the Meteoric Water Mobility Procedure

When assessing the environmental impact of mining operations, understanding how mine rock interacts with naturally occurring water is absolutely essential. ASTM E2242-13 provides an authoritative, proven methodology for this critical evaluation, offering engineers and scientists a standardized approach to predict the mobility of constituents from mine rock.

What is E2242-13?

ASTM E2242-13 establishes a comprehensive laboratory test method for simulating the leaching of constituents from mine rock using a column percolation procedure. Developed by ASTM International, this standard aims to quantify the potential for soluble elements and compounds within mine rock to be mobilized by meteoric water, mimicking natural environmental conditions. Its primary purpose is to generate a representative leachate for subsequent analysis.

Scope & Purpose

This industry-leading standard governs the procedure for conducting column percolation extractions specifically on mine rock samples. It details the apparatus, reagents, and procedural steps required to pass a controlled volume of water through a packed column of mine rock. The scope focuses solely on the extraction process itself, not on the detailed sampling, sample preparation, or specific analytical techniques for the collected leachate, though it references relevant complementary standards. It is not intended to simulate all possible field leaching scenarios but rather to provide a standardized, comparative assessment.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Environmental Engineers, Geochemists, Laboratory Analysts, Mining Engineers, and Environmental Scientists involved in mine waste characterization and environmental impact assessments.
• • Industries affected: Mining, Environmental Services, Waste Management, Metallurgy, and Regulatory Agencies overseeing mining operations.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, but often recommended or mandated by regulatory bodies as part of permitting and environmental monitoring programs.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically checked by environmental regulators, permitting agencies, and internal quality assurance departments within mining companies and consulting firms.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires professionals to:

• • Utilize a specifically designed extraction column capable of holding a minimum quantity of mine rock and allowing for controlled water application.
• • Prepare mine rock samples to a specified particle size to ensure adequate percolation and representative extraction.
• • Apply a controlled volume of water, often representative of local meteoric water conditions, at a consistent rate to the sample column.
• • Collect the resulting effluent (leachate) that has passed through the mine rock column for subsequent analysis.
• • Ensure the extraction process continues until a defined mass of solution equivalent to a significant portion of the dry solids weight is collected, or a maximum duration is reached.

Related Standards & References

ASTM E2242-13 works in conjunction with several other ASTM standards. Specification D1193 for Reagent Water is essential for preparing the extraction fluid. Test Methods D1293 for pH of Water and Guide E882 for Accountability and Quality Control in the Chemical Analysis Laboratory are crucial for analyzing the leachate and ensuring data integrity. For situations involving finely divided solids where column percolation may be problematic, Test Method D6234 for Shake Extraction of Mining Waste by the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure offers an alternative.