The Lorraine mine site in western Quebec was operational from 1964 to 1968. The tailings pond at this site covers an area of 15.5 hectares and was abandoned for about 30 years. During this period, significant acid mine drainage (AMD) was produced. To reduce the environmental impact of AMD, a reclamation project was undertaken in the summer of 1998. The reclamation approach recommended for this site was the construction of a cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) to limit the migration of oxygen into the reactive waste. This site has been monitored since the CCBE construction. Measurements performed on the site show that after a transitional period of two years (1999–2000), the CCBE was effective in limiting oxygen migration. Numerical modelling incorporating climate change was carried out in order to assess recovery performance over the long term. The results show that, in this particular case, climate change will not have a significant impact on CCBE performance by 2100.
Read the Full Story