3D numerical assessment of the permeable envelope concept for in-pit disposal of reactive mine wastes

Moïse Rousseau, Thomas Pabst

In the proceedings of: GeoEdmonton 2018: 71st Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 13th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Mining Geotechnics and Hydrogeology III

ABSTRACT: In-pit disposal of mine waste is a promising alternative management approach to piles and tailings impoundments deposition. Yet, the presence of dissolved oxygen and ferric ions in underground water could contribute to acid mine drainage (AMD) generation. The permeable envelope or pervious surround approach could contribute to limit contact between fresh underground water and reactive mine wastes. It consists of non-reactive waste rocks placed along the pit walls to create preferential paths for underground water. The performance of such an approach was assessed in this paper using high resolution 3D numerical models. Simulation showed that a permeable envelope could reduce flow rate in the back-filled tailings by 90%. Model validation and a preliminary sensibility analysis were also carried out. The paper presents the numerical approach and discusses the main results from the 3D models.

RÉSUMÉ: La déposition des rejets dans les fosses est une alternative prometteuse à la déposition dans les haldes et les parcs à e perméable a été proposée afin de limiter le contact es performance de cette technique a été étudiée de près de 90% les débits circulant dans les résidus miniers remblayés. Une validation du mations.

Access this article:
Canadian Geotechnical Society members can access to this article, along with all other Canadian Geotechnical Conference proceedings, in the Member Area. Conference proceedings are also available in many libraries.

Cite this article:
Moïse Rousseau; Thomas Pabst (2018) 3D numerical assessment of the permeable envelope concept for in-pit disposal of reactive mine wastes in GEO2018. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2018Paper138,author = Moïse Rousseau; Thomas Pabst,title = 3D numerical assessment of the permeable envelope concept for in-pit disposal of reactive mine wastes,year = 2018}