Gaining insights into mine waste dumps to avoid environmental legacies

该项目旨在开发新的方法，以确定矿山废石堆内的污染源热点和路径。这解决了国家对有效管理酸性和含金属废水（AMD）的需求，这是新矿山可行性和应对老矿山污染遗留问题的关键考虑因素。该研究将开发和测试地球物理和地球化学分析及其整合的创新方法，提供垃圾场关键物理和化学特征的三维绘图。预期结果包括对采矿业管理其AMD负债的能力更有信心。

The project aims to develop new methods for identifying pollution source hotspots and pathways inside mine waste rock dumps. This addresses the national need for effective management of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (AMD), which is now a critical consideration in the viability of new mines and in confronting pollution legacies of old mines. The research will develop and test innovative methods of geophysical and geochemical analysis and their integration that provide 3-dimensional mapping of key physical and chemical features of the dump. Expected outcomes include greater confidence in the ability of the mining industry to manage its AMD liability.