An integrated, risk-based approach for design of mine waste long-term disposal facilities

Authors: Steel, A; Hawboldt, K; Khan, F

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1152_106_Steel

Cite As:
Steel, A, Hawboldt, K & Khan, F 2011, 'An integrated, risk-based approach for design of mine waste long-term disposal facilities', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett & A Beersing (eds), Mine Closure 2011: Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 377-388, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1152_106_Steel

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Abstract:
Base metal mines can produce large quantities of waste in the form of tailings and sludges which contain metals in various compound forms. Although, the waste may be neutralised before disposal, it can have high acid generating and metal leaching potential and therefore it is important to determine optimal treatment/mitigation/disposal methods and their associated risks in order to protect human health and the environment. A risk-based approach is proposed to determine the optimal disposal methodology for mine waste. The main steps include: hazard identification, characterisation, geochemical transport modelling, exposure effect modelling, risk estimation/characterisation and risk management. To demonstrate the applicability of this method, a case study illustrating four mine waste disposal options with three potential sources of Contaminants of Concern (COC) are considered. Using the selected COCs, the human health and ecological risk is evaluated against acceptance criteria for each design option. A Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) analysis framework is then used to optimise the waste disposal options based on criteria which includes risk, costs and environmental protection.

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