Field Experimental Cells to Evaluate the Generation of Contaminated Neutral Drainage by Waste Rock at the Tio Mine, Quebec, Canada

摘要

Contaminated neutral drainage (CND) with nickel release is observed at the Tio mine, Canada. To better understand CND generation at this site, 7 intermediate-scale field experimental cells were built. This paper presents a brief description of the site, a detailed characterization of the different materials tested and the design and instrumentation of the cells. Results of the first two years of water quality monitoring showed that cells with previously weathered materials leach more nickel than cells with freshly blasted waste rock. Observations also show that the weathered materials are more prone to leach nickel when they contain more ore.