Phytostabilization for Sustainable End - Use of Arsenic - Rich Mine Tailings in the Victorian Goldfields, Australia

摘要

Anthropogenically generated arsenic (As) contamination is an ever - increasing problem worldwide at many mine tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Phytostabilization provides an attractive technology for long-term remediation of areas for many mine TSFs which contain large amounts of arsenic. Important characteristics of vegetation for phytostabilization include As tolerance and low As accumulation in order to restrict food chain transfer. In parallel with geochemical studies on the oxidation and formation of secondary minerals of sulfide tailings, the life cycle of the vegetation needs to be monitored long term to determine if this strategy is sustainable and self perpetuating; this is rarelydone. In the case of Stawell Gold Mine, Victorian Goldfields of southeastern Australia, early planning for mine closure strategies has provided a unique opportunity to adequately test regulatory capping prescriptions for tailings surfaces prior to final implementation.