NSERC-UQAT Industrial Research Chair on mine site reclamation

在过去的二十年左右，采矿业已经投入了大量的资金，用于开发工具和技术，以改善废石和尾矿的管理。然而，尽管取得了这一进展，仍有一些重要领域需要研究，特别是在采矿废物处置区的复垦方面，这些废物处置区含有可产生受污染矿井排水的活性矿物。该研究计划的长期目标是开发有效的回收策略，使用新的方法或技术限制环境影响和风险。拟议的研究包括五个项目：1）与矿山复垦有关的理论问题; 2）尾矿储存设施的复垦; 3）废石储存设施的复垦; 4）工程矿山覆盖物的长期性能;以及5）技术和知识转让。拟设主席将综合使用各种调查方法，包括实验室测试、物理建模、现场测量和监测以及数值模型开发和应用。这种工业椅将允许开发新技术和/或改进现有技术，用于在位于不同气候条件下的硬岩矿山回收矿山废物处理区。即使在项目的早期阶段，也必须使当地社区相信拟议的采矿不会成为环境问题，因此，规划复垦战略变得越来越重要。该教席的工作将通过培训高素质的人员来进行，这些人员将成为急需的专家，帮助采矿业生产金属，同时减少其对环境的影响。

Over the past twenty years or so, the mining industry has invested significant capital in the development oftools and technologies for improving the management of waste rocks and tailings. However, despite thisprogress, there are still important areas that need to be studied, particularly with respect to the reclamation ofmine waste disposal areas containing reactive minerals that can generate contaminated mine drainages. Thelong-term objective of this research program is to develop efficient reclamation strategies that limitenvironmental impacts and risks using novel approaches or technologies. The proposed research includes fiveprojects: 1) Theoretical aspects related to mine site reclamation; 2) Reclamation of tailings storage facilities; 3)Reclamation of waste rock storage facilities; 4) Long-term performance of engineered mine covers; and 5)Technology and knowledge transfer. The proposed Chair will use a combination of investigative approaches,including laboratory testing, physical modeling, in situ measurements and monitoring, and numerical modeldevelopment and application. This industrial chair will allow for the development of new technologies and/orthe improvement of existing technologies for reclaiming mine waste disposal areas at hard rock mines that arelocated in varied climatic conditions. The planning of reclamation strategies is becoming increasingly crucial,even during the early stages of a project in which local communities must be convinced that a proposed minewill not become an environmental problem. The work in this Chair will be performed through the training ofhighly qualified personnel who will become much-needed specialists that will help the mining industry producemetals while reducing their environmental impacts.