Review of the Reclamation Techniques for Acid-Generating Mine Wastes upon Closure of Disposal Sites

Aubertin, Michel; Bussière, Bruno; Pabst, Thomas; James, Michael B.; Mbonimpa, Mamert

doi:10.1061/9780784480137.034

Cited by 50 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Future work should consider complex and integrative waste management approaches. For example, controlling water infiltration by layering and co-disposal opportunities [40,41]. Material uncertainty is a critical component in understanding waste management and requires further data such as simulated boundaries of overburden material to manage the risk associated with material supply to ongoing projects within the mining complex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous stochastic optimisation of an open-pit gold mining complex with waste management

Levinson

Dimitrakopoulos

2019

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment

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Simultaneous stochastic optimisation manages risk and capitalises on the unique interactions that occur in a mining complex, where materials are transferred between mines, processors, stockpiles, and waste facilities to achieve a marketable product. Typically, when optimising the production schedule, the primary focus is to deliver valuable products to the market. However, this tends to ignore the environmental and economic impact of simplifying waste management requirements, including the storage and disposal of waste material. Stricter regulations and engineering requirements are transforming past mining practices to develop more sustainable operations. These transformations increase the financial cost of waste management and identify the requirement to integrate waste management into the production schedule. Additionally, misrepresenting the material uncertainty and variability associated with the amount of waste produced can impact, both, the stakeholders and the profitability of a mining complex. In this case study, a simultaneous stochastic optimisation approach is applied in a gold mining complex that integrates waste management into the longterm production schedule. The resulting schedule leads to a 6% increase in the net present value when compared to a conventional approach, while minimising the likelihood of deviating from production targets and ensuring permit constraints are satisfied.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous stochastic optimisation of an open-pit gold mining complex with waste management

Levinson

Dimitrakopoulos

2019

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment

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“…Engineered covers are one of the reclamation options used for the decommissioning of mine waste storage facilities to control acid mine drainage (AMD) generation (Aubertin et al 2002(Aubertin et al , 2016. The objective of mine engineered cover systems is to exclude water and/or oxygen that are responsible for the AMD production when they are brought into contact with sulphide-bearing mine wastes (Aubertin et al 2002(Aubertin et al , 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In humid regions like in Québec, oxygen flux control by engineered covers is usually considered as the most efficient way to limit AMD production in the long term (Aubertin et al 2016;Bussière et al 2007). There are several types of oxygen barrier covers but this paper will focus on covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBEs) that have been used in the Québec region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this reclamation technique, waste storage facilities are covered with three to five layers of materials with distinct textural and hydrogeological properties. In a CCBE, these layers are assembled in order to create capillary barrier effects (Aubertin et al 2002(Aubertin et al , 2016. The layer made of fine-grained materials, placed on top of a coarse-grained layer that easily desaturates, tends to store moisture coming from the soil surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Will tree colonisation increase the risks of serious performance loss of engineered covers under climate change in Québec, Canada?

Manyala¹,

Guittonny²,

Bussière³

et al. 2019

Proceedings of the International Conference on Mine Closure

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In Québec (Eastern region of Canada), some mine sites have been reclaimed with engineered covers to control acid mine drainage generation. Under humid climate, used covers are mainly oxygen barrier covers. Their performance is based on the maintenance of a high level of water saturation in cover layers that decreases oxygen ingress down to reactive mine wastes. After mine closure, natural colonisation of plant species adapted to current climate conditions takes place gradually on the covers. Plants, especially trees with deep rooting, can affect the water balance of the cover materials. If water saturation decreases in cover materials due to root colonisation, it can cause oxygen ingress to the mine wastes. Numerical models used to predict cover water balance integrate vegetation effects mainly through the use of leaf area index (LAI), root maximal depth (Rtmax), and root length density (RLD) as input parameters. By 2100, a northward shift of the distribution of some tree species is predicted from temperate to boreal regions of Canada because of climate change (CC). In this paper, the Lorraine abandoned mine site reclaimed with a cover with capillary barrier effect (CCBE) and surrounded by a boreal mixed wood forest was used as a case study. CC projections, woody species inventories, and bibliographical research of tree species distribution changes and associated values of key parameters were conducted. All the information collected, along with CC projection data, has helped anticipate potential effects on cover water balance components in the context of CC for the Québec region. At the Lorraine mine site, future dominance of shallow-and medium-rooted deciduous tree species and decline of shallow-and deep-rooted coniferous tree species with CC will have impacts on the CCBE water balance. Further insights are needed to model and integrate potential effects of CC on the evolution of LAI, Rtmax and RLD values of shallow-, medium-and deep-rooted species when assessing the efficiency of mine reclamation cover design over the long term. Preventive and/or remedial measures may be required to prevent cover performance decrease due to tree colonisation.

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“…Several promising approaches have been evaluated for the stabilization of As‐rich tailings such as covers, amendments, or revegetation to limit the generation of contaminated mine drainage (Kim and Davis, 2003; King et al, 2008; DeSisto et al, 2017). Covers aim to create an oxygen barrier (e.g., covers with capillary barrier effect) or reduce water infiltration (Aubertin et al, 2016) and thus control, at the source, the oxidation of As‐bearing minerals or its leaching. When As is present in pore waters, amendments can be used to modify its speciation and, potentially, reduce its mobility.…”

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confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Arsenic Leaching Potential in Gold Mine Tailings Amended with Peat and Mine Drainage Treatment Sludge

et al. 2019

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Peat and mine drainage treatment sludge can be valorized as amendments on mine sites to stabilize gold mine tailings and reduce the potential leaching of contaminants in pore water. However, the influence of organic amendments on the mobility of metalloids and/or metals in the tailings must be validated, as the leached contaminants may vary according to their type, nature, and origin. The objective of the present study was to evaluate over time the effect of peat‐ and/or Fe‐rich sludge amendments on the mobility of As and metallic cations in the drainage water of tailings potentially producing contaminated neutral drainage. Ten duplicated weathering cell experiments containing tailings alone or amended with peat and/or Fe‐rich sludge (5–10% dry weight) were performed and monitored for 112 d. The results showed that as low as 5% peat amendment would promote As mobility in tailings’ pore water, with As concentrations exceeding Quebec discharge criteria (>0.2 mg L−1). In addition, As(III), the most mobile and toxic form, was predominant with 10% peat, whereas organic species were negligible in all cells. The use of peat alone as organic amendment for the stabilization of tailing contaminants could increase the risk of generating As‐rich contaminated neutral drainage. Conversely, the mix of only 5% Fe‐rich sludge with or without peat decreased As concentrations in leachates by 65 to 80%. Further studies on the use of “peat” or “peat + Fe‐rich sludge” as cover or amendment should be conducted with a focus on Fe/As and Ca/As ratios. Core Ideas Peat amendments enhanced the leaching of As from gold mine tailings. Amendments of 5% peat promoted As(V) leaching, whereas 10% peat increased As(III) leaching. As(III) was predominant at ≥20 mg L−1 dissolved organic C from peat. Mine drainage treatment sludge could decrease As concentrations by 65 to 80% in tailings’ pore water.

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Review of the Reclamation Techniques for Acid-Generating Mine Wastes upon Closure of Disposal Sites

Cited by 50 publications

References 22 publications

Simultaneous stochastic optimisation of an open-pit gold mining complex with waste management

Simultaneous stochastic optimisation of an open-pit gold mining complex with waste management

Will tree colonisation increase the risks of serious performance loss of engineered covers under climate change in Québec, Canada?

Evaluation of Arsenic Leaching Potential in Gold Mine Tailings Amended with Peat and Mine Drainage Treatment Sludge

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