A critical review of acid rock drainage prediction methods and practices

Parbhakar-Fox, Anita; Lottermoser, Bernd G.

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.015

Cited by 148 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 121 publications

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“…For example, the generation of mineral dusts (i.e., from dry-stack tailings surfaces) potentially poses human health risks to employees and communities in proximity to mining activities [49]. However, the most significant risk associated with mine waste is the formation of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) generated by the oxidation of sulphides, commonly present in these wastes [50]. The cost of managing the AMD is considerable with recent estimates stating that the rehabilitation of one hectare is at least AU$100,000 [47,48].…”

Section: Geoenvironmental Aspects Of Geometallurgymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The key to improving the management of AMD is to examine and define the mineralogical properties of waste. Traditionally, a select number of representative samples are collected and subjected to a range of static geochemical tests [50,51] to determine whether they are PAF or NAF, therefore enabling the planning of waste handling schedules and the final landforms. However, by not determining the mineralogical properties, only an approximation of the mineral reactions that may occur in the final waste repository or landform can be afforded.…”

Section: Geoenvironmental Aspects Of Geometallurgymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geometallurgy—A Route to More Resilient Mine Operations

et al. 2018

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Geometallurgy is an important addition to any evaluation project or mining operation. As an integrated approach, it establishes 3D models which enable the optimisation of net present value and effective orebody management, while minimising technical and operational risk to ultimately provide more resilient operations. Critically, through spatial identification of variability, it allows the development of strategies to mitigate the risks related to variability (e.g., collect additional data, revise the mine plan, adapt or change the process strategy, or engineer flexibility into the system). Geometallurgy promotes sustainable development when all stages of extraction are performed in an optimal manner from a technical, environmental, and social perspective. To achieve these goals, development of innovative technologies and approaches along the entire mine value chain are being established. Geometallurgy has been shown to intensify collaboration among operational stakeholders, creating an environment for sharing orebody knowledge and improving data acquisition and interpretation, leading to the integration of such data and knowledge into mine planning and scheduling. These aspects create better business optimisation and utilisation of staff, and lead to operations that are more resilient to both technical and non-technical variability. Geometallurgy encompasses activities that utilise improved understanding of the properties of ore and waste, which impact positively or negatively on the value of the product, concentrate, or metal. Properties not only include those that impact on processing efficiency, but also those of materials which will impact on other actions such as blasting and waste management. Companies that embrace the geometallurgical approach will benefit from increased net present value and shareholder value.

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Section: Geoenvironmental Aspects Of Geometallurgymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geoenvironmental Aspects Of Geometallurgymentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometallurgy—A Route to More Resilient Mine Operations

et al. 2018

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“…According to the previous research [18], readily-soluble minerals such as oxidation products and sulfate are obtained with HCl and refractory minerals such as sulfide minerals are extracted by HNO 3 in this method. These minerals show different values of solubility rate, and it is important to discuss the occurrence of AMD in consideration of the reactivity of the minerals [20]. NAPP which is used to classify rocks into PAF and NAF in mines is calculated based on sulfur content in rocks: (NAPP = AP (total sulfur content (%) × 30.6) − ANC) [6]- [8].…”

Section: Possibility Of Occurrence Of Acid Mine Drainage (Amd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Construction of Dry Cover System for Prevention of Acid Mine Drainage at Mine Waste Dump in Open Cast Coal Mines, Indonesia

Matsumoto¹,

Shimada²,

Sasaoka³

et al. 2016

JEP

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Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) which occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to water and oxygen with an excavation is one of the serious environmental problems in the world. A dry cover system is generally constructed in waste dump for the prevention of AMD in Indonesia by virtue of low cost and availability of waste rocks for a cover layer. However, the failure of the system caused by the lack of information related to the construction of cover system in mines, which leads to AMD, has been reported recently in Indonesia. In this study, the field investigation was conducted in pit and waste dump in open cast coal mine in Indonesia with the aim of obtaining the information on the construction of a cover layer and backfilling conditions of waste rocks in the waste dump. The rock samples taken in two areas of the mine were analyzed by geochemical analysis and sequential extraction with acids. The results indicated that Net Acid Producing Potential (NAPP) of the rocks in the waste dump down to 100 cm depth in both areas was from 10 to 30 kg H2SO4/ton, suggesting that Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) was backfilled in a cover layer. The backfill of PAF was contrary to the concept of cover system, which caused the failure of constructing a cover layer. The cause of the failure was likely attributed to the shortage of cover rocks which are classified as Non Acid Forming (NAF) or the failure of proper placement of them by an operational problem in the areas. Moreover, the results of the extraction with acids suggested that the form of iron and sulfur has to be taken into account to discuss the occurrence of AMD.

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“…Whilst some arsenic bearing minerals (e.g., realgar, As 4 S 4 ; orpiment, As 2 S 3 ) react with a cyanide lixiviant, arsenopyrite oxidises very slowly and therefore has very little adverse effect on Au leaching [32]. Instead, arsenopyrite and remnant pyrite have also undergone surficial oxidation after heap leaching operations (Equations (8) and (9); [8,33]) resulting in localised low pH conditions. In turn, this has permitted galena oxidation (Equations (10) [8,34]).…”

Section: Heap Leach Pile Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoenvironmental Characterisation of Heap Leach Materials at Abandoned Mines: Croydon Au-Mines, QLD, Australia

Parbhakar-Fox

2016

Minerals

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Abstract:Heap leaching is a well-established metallurgical technology which allows metal recovery (e.g., Au, Cu, U) from low-grade ores. However, spent heap leach materials remaining at abandoned or historic mine sites may represent a potential source of contamination. At the Croydon Au-mines, heap leaching operations (1984)(1985) were performed on mineralized rhyolites hosting sulphides including pyrite, galena, arsenopyrite and minor sphalerite. Characterization of spent heap leach materials (n = 14) was performed using established geochemical and mineralogical techniques, supplemented by automated mineralogical evaluations. Whilst these materials contained low sulphide-sulphur (0.08 to 0.41 wt %) and returned innocuous paste pH values (pH 5.1 to 8.6), they were classified uncertain by net acid producing potential/net acid generating criteria. This was likely due to the reaction of secondary mineral phases (i.e., beudantite, hidalgoite, kintoreite and Fe-As-Pb oxides) during these tests. It is hypothesised that during heap leaching, gangue sulphides have differentially reacted with the cyanide lixiviant, pre-conditioning the formation of these complex secondary phases during surficial oxidation, after heap leaching termination. These materials are considered to represent a moderate geoenvironmental risk as dissolved Pb in basal leachates is in excess of the World Health Organization (WHO 2006) guideline values. Considering this, these materials should be included in ongoing rehabilitation works at the site.

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A critical review of acid rock drainage prediction methods and practices

Cited by 148 publications

References 121 publications

Geometallurgy—A Route to More Resilient Mine Operations

Geometallurgy—A Route to More Resilient Mine Operations

Construction of Dry Cover System for Prevention of Acid Mine Drainage at Mine Waste Dump in Open Cast Coal Mines, Indonesia

Geoenvironmental Characterisation of Heap Leach Materials at Abandoned Mines: Croydon Au-Mines, QLD, Australia

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