Abstract
Remote sensing has proven to be effective for mapping natural water bodies; however, its application in analyzing the physicochemical properties of mining sumps, particularly for detecting acid mine drainage (AMD), remains underexplored. This study evaluates the use of reflectance spectroscopy combined with multispectral PlanetScope SuperDove imagery to provide a practical solution for AMD detection and spatial mapping in coal mine sumps. Nine water samples from active sumps in the Asam-Asam coal mine, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, were analyzed for their physicochemical properties and spectral reflectance. Positive correlations between visible spectrum absorption band depths and concentrations of SO₄²⁻, Fe(tot), and Mn(tot) were identified, enabling the spatial mapping of AMD sources. Spatial mapping revealed areas of persistent AMD contamination, particularly during dry seasons when water coverage was reduced, leading to concentrated pollutant levels. Temporal analysis of the imagery revealed seasonal fluctuations in water coverage and AMD intensity, influenced by rainfall and mining activities. These findings underscore the utility of integrating spectral and spatial data to monitor AMD dynamics. This integrated approach bridges the gap between detailed laboratory analyses and large-scale environmental monitoring, providing a cost-effective tool for early AMD detection and supports sustainable mining practices through improved environmental monitoring.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Institut Teknologi Bandung through the Research, Community Service, and Innovation Program 2023 and the Regular Fundamental Research Program of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of Indonesia (2023) (Grant No. 110/E5/PG.02.00.PL/2023). We sincerely thank the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable and constructive comments, which have significantly improved the clarity of this manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by Institut Teknologi Bandung through the Research, Community Service, and Innovation Program 2023 and the Regular Fundamental Research Program - Ministry of Higher Education and Research Technology of Indonesia 2023.
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A.N.H.H. was responsible for conceptualization, funding acquisition, methodology, data curation, investigation, visualization, and drafting the manuscript, including review and editing. G.J.K. provided supervision and contributed to drafting the manuscript. S.M. worked on methodology, visualization, and drafting the manuscript. A.B. conducted laboratory analysis and investigations. A.D.S. contributed to reviewing and editing the manuscript.
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Communicated by Hassan Babaie.
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Hede, A.N.H., Kusuma, G.J., Maghfira, S. et al. Characterizing acid mine drainage in coal mine sumps using reflectance spectroscopy and PlanetScope SuperDove imagery. Earth Sci Inform 18, 307 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-025-01826-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-025-01826-9