堪萨斯地质调查局化验煤矿废料，探寻稀土与污染治理
堪萨斯地质调查局启动一项由拨款资助的项目，化验堪萨斯州东南部的煤矿废料堆，以探寻制造电脑零部件、智能手机和电池所需的高价值稀土矿物，同时研究如何清理这些废料带来的有害物质。项目主要调查切罗基县和克劳福德县的采矿废料，该地区曾经煤矿业兴盛，留下大量废料堆。研究人员指出，煤矿废料会渗入水体，使水变成橙色并降低酸碱度，化验工作既要确认废料中是否含有可供提取的稀土矿物，也要为废料堆的清理和修复总结最佳做法。参与项目的调查人员布莱尔·施耐德表示，如果化验结果证明提取矿物具有价值，项目还将为矿物的开采与污染区域的清理提供可行的操作规范。该项目11月5日经堪萨斯新闻社报道，是当天堪萨斯州内受到关注的科研与环保新闻之一。
（来源：堪萨斯地质调查局）
Kansas Geological Survey Tests Coal Waste for Rare Earth Minerals and Cleanup Methods
The Kansas Geological Survey has launched a grant-funded project to test piles of coal waste in southeastern Kansas for high-value rare earth minerals used in computer components, smartphones and batteries, while studying how to clean up the harmful substances the waste leaves behind. The project focuses on mining waste in Cherokee and Crawford counties, a region once prosperous from coal mining that is now dotted with waste piles. Researchers note that coal waste leaches into waterways, turning water orange and lowering its pH; the testing aims both to determine whether the waste contains extractable rare earth minerals and to identify best practices for cleaning up and restoring the piles. Blair Schneider, a researcher on the project, said that if the results show extraction is worthwhile, the project will also provide workable procedures for mining the minerals and remediating contaminated areas. The project was reported by the Kansas News Service on November 5 and was among the science and environment stories drawing attention in Kansas that day.
(Source: Kansas Geological Survey)
来源：堪萨斯地质调查局
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：匹兹堡（堪萨斯州）市区（图：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0） / Downtown Pittsburg, Kansas (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
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