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

Acid mine drainage (AMD) remains a major environmental challenge for the mining industry. The preferred options for effectively limiting the environmental impact of AMD consist in controlling the reactions through the use of preventative techniques. Their principal objective is to exclude at least one of the constitutive elements of the chemical reactions, i.e. water, oxygen, or sulfidic minerals. The article recalls the basic principles and reviews different approaches for the prevention and control of AMD upon mine closure. The main methods include multi-layer covers, water covers, and an elevated water table (with a mono-layer cover). Their main advantages, limitations and uncertainties are addressed. Alternative approaches, such as environmental desulphurization and co-disposal of waste rock and tailings, are also discussed.

[1]  J. Molson,et al.  Analyses of water diversion along inclined covers with capillary barrier effects. , 2009 .

[2]  Michel Aubertin,et al.  Integrated mine tailings management by combining environmental desulphurization and cemented paste backfill: Application to mine Doyon, Quebec, Canada , 2008 .

[3]  Bruno Bussière,et al.  Performance of the oxygen limiting cover at the LTA site, Malartic, Quebec , 2006 .

[4]  L. Catalan,et al.  Predicted and Field-Measured Resuspension of Flooded Mine Tailings , 2002 .

[5]  M S Johnson,et al.  Ecological restoration of land with particular reference to the mining of metals and industrial minerals: A review of theory and practice , 2002 .

[6]  Benjamin Ross,et al.  The diversion capacity of capillary barriers , 1990 .

[7]  M. Aubertin,et al.  The behavior of inclined covers used as oxygen barriers , 2003 .

[8]  H. M. Anawar,et al.  Sustainable rehabilitation of mining waste and acid mine drainage using geochemistry, mine type, mineralogy, texture, ore extraction and climate knowledge. , 2015, Journal of environmental management.

[9]  P. Singer,et al.  Acidic Mine Drainage: The Rate-Determining Step , 1970, Science.

[10]  M. Aubertin,et al.  Evaluation of diffusive gas flux through covers with a GCL , 2000 .

[11]  M. Benzaazoua,et al.  Field experimental cells to assess hydrogeological behaviour of store-and-release covers made with phosphate mine waste , 2015 .

[12]  J. Molson,et al.  Preventing Acid Mine Drainage with an Elevated Water Table: Long-Term Column Experiments and Parameter Analysis , 2010 .

[13]  R. Kerry.  Ageing of exposed geomembranes at locations with different climatological conditions , 2015 .

[14]  J. Stormont.  The effectiveness of two capillary barriers on a 10% slope , 1996 .

[15]  Michel Aubertin,et al.  Measurement and Prediction of the Oxygen Diffusion Coefficient in Unsaturated Media, with Applications to Soil Covers , 2004 .

[16]  Jason K. Keller,et al.  11 Years of Evapotranspiration Cover Performance at the AA Leach Pad at Barrick Goldstrike Mines , 2014, Mine Water and the Environment.

[17]  D. Crerar,et al.  Biogeochemistry of acid mine drainage and a method to control acid formation , 1981 .

[18]  Robert M. Koerner,et al.  Geomembrane Lifetime Prediction: Unexposed and Exposed Conditions , 2011 .

[19]  R. Rowe,et al.  Aging of High-Density Polyethylene Geomembranes of Three Different Thicknesses , 2014 .

[20]  M. Aubertin,et al.  Diffusion and consumption of oxygen in unsaturated cover materials , 2003 .

[21]  M. Aubertin,et al.  A research project on the use of waste rock inclusions to improve the performance of tailings impoundments , 2017 .

[22]  A. Bouazza,et al.  Acid induced degradation of the bentonite component used in geosynthetic clay liners , 2013 .

[23]  B. Bussière.  Colloquium 2004: Hydrogeotechnical properties of hard rock tailings from metal mines and emerging geoenvironmental disposal approaches , 2007 .