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.

采矿活动会产生大量的废物，从而对水和土壤质量产生负面影响，以及接收生态系统的健康。含硫化物的矿山废物的风化，包括不经济的废岩，可以产生酸性引流，并促进无机成分的释放，包括金属（LIE）和硫酸盐。 Ekati钻石矿位于NWT Yellowknife东北约300公里处。 Ekati将产生约820吨的废岩，其中包括大约50吨的废岩，主要由混合的沉积物和花岗岩 - 粘液酶组成。在田间条件下，该材料具有不确定的酸性潜力。这一发现与使用核心样本电荷进行的实验室规模湿度 - 测试结果不同，后者将岩石归类为潜在的酸产生。拟议的研究项目的范围是通过综合的现场样本收集，实验室实验和表征以及反应性传输模型来重新评估废岩的产生酸和金属渗透潜力。拟议的项目将提供有关废气风化可能引起的潜在长期水质影响的关键见解，并建立扩展关系以预测该领域的污染物释放，运输和衰减；这些结果将由Ekati集成为封闭计划和覆盖设计。