Mine Water Mgt
Issue #46: Mine Water Management
Our perspective
Mining personnel have a different interpretation of the term “mine water management”. For the rock mechanics engineer it is the de-pressurisation of a slope in an open pit, for the metallurgist it might pertain to the water contained in the process circuit, and for the tailings engineer, the waste circuit. read full article…
Drainage measures for ensuring the stability of the proposed cutback at Ok Tedi mine
The Ok Tedi copper-gold mine in Papua, New Guinea is situated within a seismically active, mountainous region of extremely high rainfall. The current open pit is transected by several large faults, and the rock mass conditions are complex. Material permeabilities are variable, with considerable contrast within the major rock types and fault zones. read full article…
Designing field programs to maximise the capture of groundwater data
A good understanding of mine water management issues related to underground and open pit mines depends on collecting a comprehensive hydrogeological data set. Data collection is the most time-consuming and costly stage since it requires gathering substantial amounts of long-term seasonal data. read full article…
Changing climate affects mine planning in South Africa
Research done in South Africa shows that change in the global climate is affecting the way local mines need to plan and build their infrastructure, particularly when it comes to water management. Studies by Lumsden and Schulze show climate change is going to make the eastern parts of SA significantly wetter, and western regions drier. read full article…
Managing salt levels in mine water
A water balance model is commonly used in the mining industry to monitor and manage the distribution of water within a mine; however, it is also vital to keep an eye on levels of salt in on-site water, especially as mine water is increasingly re-circulated in the interests of conservation. Water balance development is a core strength across all of SRK’s global offices and water balance methods have been developed for every continent. read full article…
Water control evaluation for an iron ore project in Australia
The proposed mine site is located in Western Australia along a steep ridge. The ridge is made of steeply -dipping banded iron formations (BIFs), or iron-rich sedimentary rock, interlayered with felsic sedimentary and igneous rocks that host the iron ore mineralisation. The sub-vertical, high permeable BIFs act as a groundwater storage system. read full article…
Collecting 3D data for dewatering of an underground uranium mine in Canada
Predicting the volume and quality of groundwater inflows to a mine requires 3D characterisation of the hydrogeology in and around the mine site. Full characterisation requires not only transmissivity, or measurment of the ability of rocks bordering the mine to transmit force and water pressure, but separate values of horizontal (Kh) and vertical (Kv) hydraulic conductivity of the units, and the spatial distribution of these values. read full article…
Hydrogeologic challenges for data collection in the field
Mineral resources are often associated with complex geologic regimes that present challenges for conceptual thought, investigatory methods, data analysis, and numerical modelling. Geologic terrains that contain varied materials, mineralogic alteration, significant structure, hydrothermal activity, permafrost, and subsurface gas present challenging environments for a hydrogeologist. read full article…
Impact of quarry deepening on local groundwater users
A rise in demand for cement in South Africa led Pretoria Portland Cement to commission an ElA in 2007 to investigate the impacts of expanding one of its main limestone quarries. The quarry is located about 100km northeast of Cape Town, South Africa. read full article…
Applying numerical groundwater modelling for mine dewatering projects around the world
Groundwater flow in the vicinity of open pits and underground mines varies 3-dimensionally and with time. Assessing mine dewatering commonly requires the development of 3-dimensional (3D) numerical groundwater models, based on 3D geological, structural, and hydrogeological data, to fully characterise the groundwater flow. read full article…
Early stage hydrogeological assessments in Central and West Africa
A good understanding of mine water management issues related to underground and open pit mines depends on collecting a comprehensive hydrogeological data set. Data collection is the most time-consuming and costly stage since it requires gathering substantial amounts of long-term seasonal data. read full article…
Inflow water quality - Hope Bay, Nunavut
Mine water management in the Canadian Arctic involves a unique combination of technical challenges as a function of the geographical and geologic setting. Characterisation and planning for underground mine groundwater inflow management requires a thorough understanding of northern hydrogeology, as well as thermal effects, water quality and logistical challenges. read full article…
Surface water management in the jungle of Brazil
Beadell Resources Limited appointed SRK to prepare a feasibility study of the Tucano project located in the north of Brazil, in Amapá State, where the mean annual precipitation is approximately 2.4 metres. read full article…
Mine water supply in the Middle East
SRK has had extensive experience working on mine water supply projects in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The climate in this part of the world is mostly arid with very limited rainfall, runoff and recharge. It follows that one of the major challenges mines face is guaranteeing a sustainable long-term supply of water for the mine operation. read full article…
Water and chemical load balance for an underground mine in New Mexico
Inflow from surface sources affects the otherwise relatively dry Questa Molybdenum Mine located in northern New Mexico. Mining by the block cave method has produced a subsidence zone that captures surface water drainage. Data collected for a comprehensive water and chemical load balance demonstrated containment by the underground workings. read full article…
Water management for closure, Nevada
This article describes 1) methods of locating abandoned boreholes within a side hill pit, and 2) the design and operation of in-line pH adjustment facilities for low-pH pit water. read full article…
Source water protection planning
A FIFA requirement for South Africa to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup was that host cities assure adequate and safe water supply for the event and visitors. This requirement was in line with that of many municipalities in the United States to develop a Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) for protecting and managing the supply of water to users and consumers, and is an initiative SRK has been working on with various industrial and mining clients. read full article…
Integrated geotechnical-hydrogeological field investigations in Sweden
In hard rock mining environments, groundwater flow along fractures dominates. In order to understand the nature of fractures, and particularly those that are continuous and inter-connected within a wider fracture network, SRK employs specialist field investigation techniques. The opportunity to design and undertake such investigations within an integrated program of geotechnical and hydrogeological investigation can yield enhanced results. read full article…
In-pit mine water control at the Grib mine in Russia
SRK works with clients to develop effective strategies for managing surface and groundwater in open pit mines. SRK recently completed a bankable level feasibility study for the Grib Diamond Mine in Northern Russia where many of the issues associated with controlling water in the open pit environment can occur. read full article…
Acid and metalliferous drainage
Sulfide bearing rocks in waste dumps, spent copper heap leach piles, ore stock piles, pit walls, coal spoil and dewatered tailings storage facilities can be long-term sources of water contamination. Sulfides, when exposed to oxygen and water, oxidise to produce sulfates and acid. Under acid conditions a wide range of metals are more soluble. read full article…
Water-related environmental studies for a coal mine project in Chilean Patagonia
SRK Chile has recently participated in defining the water base line required by the EIA to obtain an environmental permit for the Riesco Island coal project, and in other water-related works. Riesco Island is located 60 kilometers northwest of Punta Arenas in Region XII of Magallanes. The project involves a pit with an in-pit waste dump, external waste dumps, a stockpile at the port and supporting infrastructure. read full article…
Water supply: an increasing challenge in Chilean mining
Large mining projects, currently being developed in Chile’s northern region, are generally located in the Andes Mountains at altitudes of 3000+ meters above sea level. Possible sources of water supply for mining are the mountain aquifers and sea water. Due to Chile’s geographic configuration, using sea water is always feasible, as the average width of the country in the northern zone is 150km to 350km. read full article…
Mine water management with GoldSim in Indonesia
SRK is carrying out a major water management study for a confidential client that is currently developing several coal contracts extending 150 km in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Our services cover water monitoring, supply, drainage, storage, diversion, discharge and closure planning over the life of the project and address design, costing and scheduling of all water and sediment management infrastructure. Given the complexity and scale of the project along with an average annual rainfall of 4500mm, key challenges lie ahead. read full article…
Stormwater control on mines
South Africa’s National Water Act of 1998 has highlighted the need to conserve its valuable resource in this water-scarce country. It lays down strict regulations on the discharge of contaminated water into the environment. For the mining sector, the Act has required more effective control of stormwater – one of the main catalysts of contaminated discharge from mining areas. read full article…
Managing sulfate impacts on water quality
Sulfate is becoming more of a water quality problem for mining companies. Regulations governing sulfate concentrations have been flexible, and the unstated mitigation measure is often dilution of sulfate downstream. Federal water quality guidance in the United States characterises sulfate as a secondary contaminant with a maximum concentration of 250mg/l for drinking water. read full article…
Integrated mine water management
The success or failure of a mining project is often linked to site water management, or the lack of it. Risks to a project’s success include tailings dam failures during storm events, slope failures related to elevated pore pressures, water in blast holes leading to inefficient blasting (adding costs and environmental impacts), lack of process water, and excessive closure costs. read full article…
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