GolfCharlie. Sulphide metal ores rarely reach the surface because they are oxidized well before erosion exposes them.
It's not true that metal bearing minerals are not consumed by bacteria. Most of the "cobwebs" in movie mines are representations of skeins of bacteria.
Not all metal sulphide mines generate acid mine waters. Those in limestone terrains produce neutral waters which are not loaded with metals.

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/11/13/oh-noes-cop23-attendees-to-hear-that-co2-will-rise-again-after-3-years-of-stability/

No news yet about temperatures, but they are confident about CO2 rising.

Nov 13, 2017 at 2:20 PM | stewgreen

Is there a link between Green Blob Desperation and man made CO2? Or is it linked to the health of the world's botany in water and on land, plus variations in received sunshine?

Nov 13, 2017 at 3:12 PM | Supertroll

I am sure there is an obvious geological explanation, but mineral mines do seem to cut through a variety of metals and ores, producing non organic waste and waste water, that naturally occurring bacteria have little appetite for. Lack of carbon?

There are bacteria that will munch their way through crude oil, and some coal residues.

Faecal gobbling bacteria are everywhere!

GolfCharlie. An interesting place to visit is Wheal Jane Mine in Cornwall. In 1992 after pumping was switched off highly metal contaminated mine waters backed up, burst out of the mine - contaminating the nearby Carnon Valley and Fal Estuary. Two systems were installed to deal with this acid mine drainage - a "natural" system of reed beds, limestone drains and straw/organic muck filters, and a chemical system. The natural system occupied the valley bottom and treated at most ~5% of the minewater, whereas the chemical system treated the rest of the outflow in a big metal box maybe 5 metres cubed. Guess which system gets all the publicity? Check here:
http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/mines/carnon-valley/wheal-jane.htm

The power of green propaganda!

PS. Obviously since I visited the plant has expanded. I found a u-tube about it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqkBSJPwEC4

Nov 13, 2017 at 12:36 PM | DaveS

Thanks for that. Reeds beds are effective until it gets too cold! Sewage treatment is a biological process, and does have an optimum temperature range.

Some of the Veterinary links do note the problems with piglets drinking nitrate rich water, so the complication with infants seems likely.

People used to drinking "soft" water can experience an "upset tummy" when they move to a hard water area, and domestic water softeners are not a solution.

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