Variability of material properties used for covers to prevent acid mine drainage

Isabelle Demers, Jessica Huo-Kang, Mamert Mbonimpa

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Mining - Reclamation and Covers I

ABSTRACT: Covers that act as oxygen barriers are considered an effective reclamation strategy for acid-generating mine tailings. Oxygen barriers require fine-grained material in their design. Installation of the cover material can be done hydraulically (as a slurry), or placed by construction equipment. The objective of the study was to evaluate the variation of particle size distribution (PDS) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (ksat) within a cover material placed by hydraulic deposition and by mechanical placement, and to evaluate the possible impact on the cover performance. Samples from two sites were collected and their PSD and ksat were measured, and WRC were estimated. Significant variations in PSD and ksat were observed for the cover placed by slurry deposition, whereas the material installed mechanically showed no significant variation in its properties. Particle segregation caused by hydraulic deposition should therefore be considered when assessing the expected performance of a cover placed as a slurry.

RÉSUMÉ: érateurs recouvrement peut être faite soit de façon hydraulique (en pulpe) ou mécanique avec des équipements de hydraulique saturée (ksat) dans un recouvrement placé hydrauliquement et mécaniquement, et ainsi évaluer caractérisés. Des variations significatives de la granulométrie et du ksat ont été observées dans le variation. La ségrégation des particules causée par la déposition hydraulique devrait donc être considérée

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Cite this article:
Isabelle Demers; Jessica Huo-Kang; Mamert Mbonimpa (2017) Variability of material properties used for covers to prevent acid mine drainage in GEO2017. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2017Paper620,author = Isabelle Demers; Jessica Huo-Kang; Mamert Mbonimpa,title = Variability of material properties used for covers to prevent acid mine drainage,year = 2017}