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Younger, P. L., Neal, C., House, W. A., Leeks, G. J. L., & Marker, A. H. (1997). The longevity of minewater pollution; a basis for decision-making U.K. fluxes to the North Sea; Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS); river basins research, the first two years. The Science of the Total Environment, 194-195, 457–466.
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Younger, P. L. (2000). Holistic remedial strategies for short- and long-term water pollution from abandoned mines. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy Section a-Mining Technology, 109, A210–A218.
Abstract: Where mining proceeds below the water-table-as it has extensively in Britain and elsewhere-water ingress is not only a hindrance during mineral extraction but also a potential liability after abandonment. This is because the cessation of dewatering that commonly follows mine closure leads to a rise in the water-table and associated, often rapid, changes in the chemical regime of the subsurface. Studies over the past two decades have provided insights into the nature and time-scales of these changes and provide a basis for rational planning of mine-water management during and after mine abandonment. The same insights into mine-water chemistry provide hints for the efficient remediation of pollution (typically due to Fe, Mn and Al and, in some cases, Zn, Cd, Pb and other metals). Intensive treatment (by chemical dosing with enhanced sedimentation or alternative processes, such as sulphidization or reverse osmosis) is often necessary only during the first few years following complete flooding of mine voids. Passive treatment (by the use of gravity-flow geochemical reactors and wetlands) may be both more cost-effective and ecologically more responsible in the long term. By the end of 1999 a total of 28 passive systems had been installed at United Kingdom mine sites, including examples of system types currently unique to the United Kingdom. Early performance data for all the systems are summarized and shown to demonstrate the efficacy of passive treatment when appropriately applied.
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Goodman, G. T. (1974). Ecology and the problems of rehabilitating wastes from mineral extraction. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 339(1618), 373–387.
Abstract: Environmental problems which may be associated with mineral extraction are: (a) the visual ugliness of open pits, waste tips, and working mess; (b) the nuisance of wind- and water-borne dusts; (c) the health hazards to wildlife, crops, livestock and man of locally increased environmental burdens of potentially toxic metals (e.g. Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Ni) derived from wind- and water-borne mine dusts and smelter smokes; (d) the safety hazards of surface subsidence and tip-slippage from deep-mining. All these disamenities can be cured or reduced by the reclamation process which involves a blend of socio-economic, legal, planning, civil engineering and biological expertise devoted to development planning, site purchase, land clearance, land forming, stabilization, drainage and revegetation of the affected site
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Berthelot, D., & Haggis, M. (1999). Application of remote monitoring and data management systems to environmental management of tailings facilities. In D. Goldsack, N. Belzile, P. Yearwood, & G. Hall (Eds.), Sudbury '99; Mining and the environment II; conference proceedings.
Abstract: The mining industry has made tremendous strides in the last 20 years in the prevention and control of acid mine drainage. However, there remain a number of circumstances where the long-term operation, care and maintenance of tailings management facilities will be required. The application of progressive environmental technologies and management systems is key to cost control and environmental liability management at these sites. Mine Waste Management Inc. currently operates Rio Algom Limited's five effluent treatment plants and seven waste management areas in the Elliot Lake, Ontario region using a Remote Plant Monitoring and Control Network (RPMCN). This system, based on Intellutions's “Fix 32” technology, enables the monitoring and control of these plants from a centralized location thus reducing labour costs while providing 24-hour surveillance. Scheduling, auditing and reporting of plant operating and environmental monitoring programs are integrated and controlled using the Envista (super TM) environmental information management system. Proper application of these technologies and management systems facilitates delivery of cost-effective environmental monitoring, and care and maintenance programs at these sites and provides tools to demonstrate compliance with all environmental performance criteria.
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Adam, K. (2003). Solid wastes management in sulphide mines: From waste characterisation to safe closure of disposal sites. Minerals and Energy Raw Materials Report, 18(4), 25–35.
Abstract: Environmentally compatible Waste Management schemes employed by the European extractive industry for the development of new projects, and applied in operating sulphide mines, are presented in this study. Standard methodologies used to assess the geotechnical and geochemical properties of the solid wastes stemming from mining and processing of sulphidic metal ores are firstly given. Based on waste properties, the measures applied to ensure the environmentally safe recycling and disposal of sulphidic wastes are summarised. Emphasis is given on the novel techniques developed to effectively prevent and mitigate the acid drainage phenomenon from sulphidic mine wastes and tailings. Remediation measures taken to minimise the impact from waste disposal sites in the post-closure period are described.
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