Geochemical Characterization and Reactive Transport Simulation of Metal Leaching and Acid Generation in Waste Rock from the Ekati Diamond Mine, NT

北领地州埃卡蒂钻石矿废石中金属浸出和酸生成的地球化学特征和反应输运模拟

• 批准号: 543489-2019
• 负责人: Blowes, David
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 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=680735
• 关键词: Geochemical; Characterization; Reactive; Transport; Simulation

Mining activities generate significant quantities of waste materials, which can negatively impact water and soil quality, and the health of receiving ecosystems. Weathering of sulfide-bearing mine wastes, including uneconomic waste rock, can generate acidic drainage and promote the release of inorganic constituents, including metal(loid)s and sulfate. The Ekati Diamond Mine is located approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife, NWT. Ekati will generate ~820 MT of waste rock, including ~50 MT of waste rock from the Pigeon Open Pit, which is comprised primarily of mixed metasediment and granite-diabase. Under field conditions, the material is of uncertain acid-generating potential; this finding differs from results of laboratory-scale humidity-cell tests conducted using core-sample charges, which classified the rock as potentially acid generating. The scope of the proposed research project is to re-assess the acid-generating and metal-leaching potential of waste rock from the Pigeon Pit through an integrated program of field-sample collection, laboratory experimentation and characterization, and reactive transport modelling. The proposed project will provide critical insights into the potential long-term water-quality impacts that may arise from waste-rock weathering, and develop scaling relationships to predict contaminant release, transport, and attenuation in the field; these outcomes will be integrated by Ekati into closure planning and cover design.

采矿活动产生了大量的废物，这可能对水和土壤质量以及接收生态系统的健康产生负面影响。含硫化物矿山废弃物（包括不经济的废石）的风化作用可产生酸性排水，促进无机成分（包括金属（样）s和硫酸盐）的释放。Ekati钻石矿位于西北耶洛奈夫东北约300公里处。Ekati将产生约820公吨废石，其中约50公吨废石来自Pigeon露天矿，主要由混合沉积和花岗岩-辉绿岩组成。在现场条件下，该材料的产酸势不确定；这一发现与使用岩心样品电荷进行的实验室规模的湿度电池测试的结果不同，后者将岩石分类为潜在的产酸岩。拟议的研究项目的范围是通过实地样品收集、实验室实验和表征以及反应传输模型的综合方案，重新评估鸽子坑废石的产酸和金属浸出潜力。拟议的项目将提供对废物岩石风化可能产生的潜在长期水质影响的关键见解，并建立尺度关系，以预测污染物在现场的释放、运输和衰减；这些成果将由Ekati整合到封闭规划和覆盖设计中。