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Mine Drainage |
| Groundwater Geochemistry
&
Remediation |
Department
of Earth Sciences
University of Waterloo |
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Mine Drainage |
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The oxidation of sulfide minerals and consequent release of acid in tailings impoundments can last for decades to centuries. The interaction of the low-pH, metals and sulfate contaminated water with tailings and aquifer minerals initiates a sequence of pH-buffering reactions. This increase in pH is often accompanied by the precipitation of metal-bearing hydroxide and hydroxysulfate minerals that remove dissolved metals from the moving water. Research in our group has focused on the mechanisms and consequences of aqueous geochemical and mineralogical changes that occur within and below sulfide tailings impoundments. The research typically involves field and laboratory investigation, enhanced by groundwater flow, geochemical, transport and reactive transport modelling.
The research has been collaborative with major companies in the Canadian
mining industry, including Agnico Eagle, Falconbridge, INCO, Noranda and
Placer Dome. Research assistance has also been provided from NSERC
(Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), CRESTech
(Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology), the MOE
(Ontario Ministry of the Environment), URIF (University Research Incentive
Fund) and TSRI
(Toxic Substances Research Initiative).
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Follow the links below to pages describing some of the research that has been or is still in progress at a number of Canadian mining properties. Tailings Hydrogeochemistry
Plume Studies
Reactive Transport Modelling
Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage
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| GGR Group |
Department
of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo
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