The following provides a checklist of the data that are collected within this chapter, and identifies where these fit in the step-by-step guide.
Step 1. Background and Baseline information
Background data
Mineral exploration reports
Geological maps and reports
River flow and climate data
DAME database
Regional council database and reports
Baseline data
Site hydrogeology
Water quality
Tributaries and main receiving system
Existing mine drainage
Biological
Reference sites
Potentially impacted sites
Step 2. Collect rock samples for geochemical testing
Step 3. Geochemical testing to determine acid-forming status and possible neutralising capacity of rock samples
Step 4. Predict mine drainage chemistry using geochemical testing
Step 5. Predict stream water chemistry at downstream point of interest
Step 6. Determine the potential ecological impact on the stream
Step 7. Consider whether impacts are acceptable
Step 7a. If unacceptable, decide on treatment and management strategies to create acceptable stream water chemistry and thus achieve an acceptable level of impact
Step 8. If acceptable, design monitoring programmes
