CRL ENERGY LTD

MINE DRAINAGE IMPACTS: REHABILITATION


     

MINE DRAINAGE SUBMENU
Researchers: Dave Trumm , Rowan Buxton, and Rachel Rait

The aim of Objective 3 is to provide a methodology to prevent or minimise impacts to water quality from mining activities. Acceptable levels of water quality impact are determined by stakeholders using the data from Objectives 1 and 2.

Water quality targets are typically set by resource consent for a discharge point from a mine site, however it is up to mine operators to decide how to meet these targets. Objective 3 provides:

  • Options for mine operators to meet targets
  • Methods to select options
  • Confidence that mine operators have ability to meet targets

Impacts from mining that we are investigating in this work include mine drainage ( AMD ) from coal mines and neutral mine drainage (NMD) containing elevated arsenic concentrations from gold mines.  These impacts can either be addressed at the source through management of overburden stockpiles at opencast mines, or through water treatment downstream of the source.  Various strategies for overburden management include: pre-mining stratagraphic analysis and planning, segregation and isolation of potentially acid forming rocks, covers and cementation, blending with neutralising material, and revegetation.  Strategies for water treatment include active water treatment systems and passive AMD treatment systems.

To select among the spectrum of treatment options, critical parameters need to be identified and measured at the site and flow charts or selection keys can be used to choose potential solutions.  We recommend that field trials be constructed to test the feasibility of potential solutions before full-scale implementation.

Outputs
2009

Fact Sheet 4: Remediation (PDF 279KB)
2008

Pope, J., Trumm, D., Harding, J., Rait, R., Niyogi D., Champeau O., Cavanagh, J., Clemens, A., Buxton, R., Haffert L. & Craw, D. (2008). West Coast and Southland Mine Drainage Workshop II. July 2008. p32  Christchurch: CRL Energy

2007

Trumm, D., Lindsay, P. & Watts, M. (2007). Acid mine drainage treatment at Herbert Stream, Stockton. AusIMM Conference, August 2007.

Trumm, D. (2007). Selection of passive AMD treatment systems – Flow chart for New Zealand conditions. AusIMM Conference, Christchurch. Poster Presentation.

Trumm, D. (2007). Acid mine drainage in New Zealand. In: Reclamation Matters. American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR), Issue 1, 2007, Volume 3, Number 2.
2006

Trumm, D. (2006). Herbert Stream AMD remediation: Preliminary conceptual design (Report No. 06-41031), p. 7. Christchurch: CRL Energy Ltd.

Trumm, D. (2006). AMD treatment in New Zealand - Use of small-scale passive systems. 7th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage. pp. 2142-2158. St Louis, Missouri: American Society of Mining and Reclamation.

Trumm, D. & Cavanagh, J. (2006). Investigation of remediation of acid mine impacted waters at Canal Creek. Report No. 06-41101 - LC0506/169. p. 17. Christchurch: Landcare Research and CRL Energy Ltd.

Pope, J., Trumm, D., Harding, J., O'Halloran, K., Cavanagh, J., Clemens, A., Buxton, R. & Craw, D. (2006). West Coast Coal and Gold Mine Drainage Workshop. p. 23. Christchurch: CRL Energy.
2005

Trumm, D. (2005). Methodology to determine management strategies - objective-3 milestone-1. Report No. CRLX0401, 05-41002-A. p. 5. Christchurch: CRL Energy Ltd.

Trumm, D. (2005). Use of small scale passive systems for treatment of AMD. AUSIMM Realising New Zealand's Mineral Potential. p. 243-248. Auckland:Crown Minerals.
Selected Presentations

Rait, R. (2008). Arsenic removal using AMD sludge coated sand. Powerpoint presentation. West Coast and Southland Mine Drainage Workshop II. July 2008

Trumm, D. (2008). Acid mine drainage treatment at Herbert Stream, Stockton. Powerpoint presentation. West Coast and Southland Mine Drainage Workshop II. July 2008

Trumm, D., Buxton, R. & Rait, R. (2008). Choosing Management and Remediation Systems. Powerpoint presentation. West Coast and Southland Mine Drainage Workshop II. July 2008

Trumm, D. (2006). Objective 3 Summary. Environment Southland Information Meeting: Invercargill, November 2006.
Related Publications

Buxton, R. P., Stanley, J., Alspach, P., Morgan, C. & Ross, C. (2005). Mosses and other early colonizers: pioneers for revegetating mine waste rock dumps and rock walls. Paper presented at: National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Breckenridge CO, June, 19-23 2005. Colorado: American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Lexington.

Moore, T., Black, A., Centeno, J., Harding, J. & Trumm, D. (Eds.). (2005). Metal contaminants in New Zealand: Sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health. p. 490. Christchurch, New Zealand: Rezolutionz Press.

Trumm, D., Black, A., Gordon, K., Cavanagh, J., O'Halloran, K. & de Joux, A. (2005). Acid Mine Drainage Assessment and Remediation at an Abandoned West Coast Coal Mine. In: Moore, T.A., Black, A., Centeno, J.A., Harding, J.S., and Trumm, D.A., (Eds.) Metal contaminants in New Zealand: Sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health. pp. 317-340. Christchurch:Resolutionz Press.