Improved Methods for Determining Soil-Atmosphere Flux Boundary Conditions at Mine Waste Repositories

确定矿山废物处置场土壤-大气通量边界条件的改进方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-06349
• 负责人: Wilson, Gordon
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=678725
• 关键词: Improved; Methods; Determining; Soil; Atmosphere

Successful operation and closure of mine waste repositories require accurate quantification of the surface water budget that controls the infiltration of meteoric water into the waste profile. The rate of net surface infiltration ultimately generates internal seepage with the release of potential leachates that may threaten downstream receptors. Recent field scale observations at both active and reclaimed mine sites in Canada, as well as international sites operated by Canadian companies, have shown current predictive models used to calculate infiltration rates for mine waste deposits such as waste rock dumps and tailings impoundments are unacceptable. For example, net infiltration rates determined directly on the basis of measured flow rates in the drainage collection ditches at Equity Silver mine in British Columbia have been found to be three fold greater than infiltration rates predicted using the current soil-atmosphere modelling methodology. The global objective of the research program proposed here is to investigate the reasons for these errors and to improve the existing soil-atmosphere methods currently available for estimating surface flux boundary conditions at mine waste repositories.****All of the research carried out by the applicant over the past six years has been in the area of mine waste management. The objective of the research programs has been to develop new technologies for improved mine waste management, closure and the reduction of long-term environmental liabilities. These objectives have been achieved through the training and innovation of highly qualified personnel.***The short-term goal of this application is to advance new techniques that provide precise measurements of field scale evaporative fluxes for improving soil-atmosphere flux boundary methods. The long-term objective of the research program will be to improve the capability of researchers and practitioners to observe, predict and design cover systems for mine tailings and waste rock impoundments. In addition, the long-term objective will be to continue training of HQPs, disseminate the results of the research into appropriate journals and conference proceedings, and finally to assist with the implementation of the research results into practice. The training of 1 MSc and 2 PhD students and Research Associate (½ time) is planned. The ultimate objective for developing and implementing the new techniques proposed here will be to improve the design and performance of mine waste repositories with respect to surface water management and the reduction of environmental liabilities.**

要成功地运作和关闭矿山废物储存库，就需要准确地量化地表水预算，以控制大气降水渗入废物的情况。净表面渗透率最终产生内部渗漏，释放出可能威胁下游受体的潜在沥滤液。最近在加拿大活跃和回收的矿场以及加拿大公司经营的国际矿场进行的实地规模观察表明，目前用于计算废石堆和尾矿库等矿山废物沉积物渗透率的预测模型是不可接受的。例如，在不列颠哥伦比亚省的Equity银的排水收集沟中，根据测得的流量直接确定的净渗透率比使用当前土壤-大气建模方法预测的渗透率大三倍。这里提出的研究计划的全球目标是调查这些错误的原因，并改进现有的土壤-大气方法，目前可用于估计矿山废物库的表面通量边界条件。申请方在过去六年中进行的所有研究都是在矿山废物管理领域。研究方案的目标是开发新技术，以改善矿山废物管理、关闭和减少长期环境责任。这些目标是通过培训和革新高素质的人员来实现的。本申请的短期目标是推进新技术，提供精确的测量场尺度蒸发通量，以改善土壤-大气通量边界方法。该研究计划的长期目标是提高研究人员和从业人员观察、预测和设计尾矿和废石蓄水池覆盖系统的能力。此外，长期目标将是继续培训HQP，将研究成果在适当的期刊和会议记录中传播，并最终协助将研究成果付诸实践。计划培训1名硕士和2名博士生和研究助理（半天）。开发和实施本文提出的新技术的最终目标是改善矿山废物储存库在地表水管理和减少环境责任方面的设计和性能。**