Geochemical Characterization, Water Quality Modeling and Adaptive Management Planning at the Kemess North Mine, British Columbia, Canada

摘要

A comprehensive static geochemical characterization program, with over 1200waste rock Acid Base Accounting (ABA) samples; tailings ABA samples; and,laboratory and field scale kinetic tests (with more than 200 weeks of data) wasundertaken to fulfill a number of objectives. These objectives formed the basis fordevelopment of the operational waste management and closure strategiesincluding waste rock and tailings placement and predictive water qualitymodeling at the proposed Kemess North Mine in northern British Columbia,Canada. As with any mining project with time lines of years to decades, it is notpossible to precisely predict actual concentrations in natural watersheds into-thefuture. The predictive modeling undertaken at Kemess North attempts to applyavailable data and assumptions where data gaps exist, to develop conservativeestimates of water quality. This paper presents how the results of the wastecharacterization program were used to develop the inputs into the dilution-equilibrium water quality model. Focus is then shifted to how the results of thewater quality modeling were used to understand potential operational impacts tothe environment and develop management strategies. Examples of closure/post-closure adaptive management plans designed to respond to variances frompredicted behavior to maintain protection of the environment are given.