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Resources, Environment and Energy Policies |
1 Earth Resources Centre, The University, North Park Road, Exeter EX4 4QE, UK
2 British Coal Opencast, Heolty, Aberaman, Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan CF44 6LX, UK
3 Rees Laboratories, Ponthenry, Llanelli SA15 5RE, UK
An atmospheric dust database has been set up for the western end of the South Wales Coalfield. This, the first of its kind in the UK, comprises dust data from British Standard 1747 four-way directional gauges, a window ledge sampler and an experimental frisbee deposit gauge. X-Ray diffraction was used to characterize the dust on the basis of mineralogy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine particle size and shape and an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system was used to locate coal particles.
For 18 months, a total of 15 directional and three frisbee gauges were used to collect dust on and around the Ffos Las opencast coal site in South Wales, UK. Additionally, two more directional gauges have been installed in the Brecon Beacons and at Exeter in south-west England to provide data from outside the coal mining area.
Processed data from the X-ray diffractograms, along with the weather data from an onsite weather gauge, are input to a geographical information system (ArcInfo), where they can be manipulated statistically. Rose diagram plots for the area can thus be presented, giving the mineralogical contents of dust from the four directions of each sampling station, set in a spatial context. A series of these plots introduces the temporal element.
This new dust data technology already shows considerable potential for use in nuisance complaints, planning applications, site licence renewals and for the implementation of future European environmental protection legislation.
