Novel approaches to ecologically sustainable and safe rehabilitation of gold mine tailings

黄金是澳大利亚的主要出口商品，金矿开采业为澳大利亚农村社区提供就业机会和基础设施。然而，金通常存在于富含毒砂的矿体中，这些矿体在提取过程后有可能将有毒量的砷释放到环境中。墨尔本大学，斯塔韦尔金矿P/L。原生种子P/L正在开展合作，确保含砷废物的复原在环境上是安全和可持续的。研究将调查植物品种的选择、影响植物生存的因素、植物对砷的吸收以及防止砷过度进入食物链。

Gold is a major export commodity for Australia and the gold mining industry provides employment and infrastructure for rural Australian communities. However, gold is often found in arsenopyrite rich ore bodies which, after the extraction process, have the potential to release toxic quantities of arsenic into the environment. The University of Melbourne, Stawell Gold Mines P/L. and Native Seeds P/L. are collaborating to ensure the rehabilitation of arseniferous wastes is environmentally safe and sustainable. Research will investigate the selection of plant species, factors affecting plant survival, plant uptake of arsenic and prevention of excess movement of arsenic into the food-chain.