Vadose run-off for mine tailings, waste rock and cover systems

一个多世纪以来，采矿业一直是加拿大经济的重要组成部分，在可预见的未来将继续如此。最重要的生产商包括油砂、煤炭、基础金属和贵金属、铀、钾肥和钻石。矿山废物管理对土地的需求往往是巨大的，外行人很难理解。加拿大矿业创新委员会最近宣布，迫切需要减少与矿山废物蓄水池有关的土地和水足迹。此外，油砂行业希望通过从湿尾矿系统转向干尾矿系统来减少与流体控制相关的长期责任。要实现这些目标，将需要建造地势有利、具有排水特性的高架矿山废物贮存库。

Mining has been a valuable component of the Canadian economy for more than a century and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The most significant producers include oil sands, coal, base and precious metals, uranium, potash and diamonds. Land requirements for the management of mine waste are often enormous and difficult for lay people to comprehend. The Canadian Council for Innovation in Mining recently declared there is an urgent need to reduce the land and water footprints associated with mine waste impoundments. In addition, the oil sands industry wishes to reduce long term liabilities associated with fluid containment by moving from wet tailings systems towards dry landscapes. Achievement of these objectives will require the construction of elevated mine waste repositories with positive topographies that offer water shedding characteristics.