Mineral processing
plants produce, in slurry form, fine-grained waste or tailings which
often contain residual quantities of chemicals and potential contaminants
from the plant mixed with water. The tailings are confined to a specific
area (tailings storage facility) for safety and environmental reasons,
and government guidelines and regulations require that the tailings
be left in an environmentally acceptable state upon mine closure. The
long-term effects of contaminant transport via wind, surface erosion
and seepage are pressing concerns. The critical processes governing
the geotechnical, chemical and hydrological behaviour of tailings deposits
must be understood to develop the most economic and rational design,
management, closure and rehabilitation strategies.
The objective of the program is to develop economic design, management
and closure strategies for environmentally acceptable tailings disposal
facilities.
Risk Assessment of the Effects of Cyanide-Bearing Tailings Solutions on Wildlife
Development
of a Risk Assessment Tool to Minimise the Impact of Arsenic and Lead Toxicity
from Mine Tailings
Definition
of Research Needs for the Management and Rehabilitation of Tailings Disposal
Facilities
[top]
