Structural and Hydrologic Characterization of Two Historic Waste Rock Piles

• Author / Creator

  Cash, Aileen E

• Mine waste rock is one of the largest waste streams produced from precious metal mining that must be managed over the long-term. Of particular concern is the management of chemical oxidation of sulphide minerals termed acid rock drainage (ARD).
  This thesis presents a field and laboratory investigation of two historic waste rock stockpiles at Detour Lake Mine in Ontario, Canada. 100 physical samples and in situ measurements of unsaturated conditions were collected. Laboratory analyses determined particle size distribution and unsaturated and hydraulic characteristics. Digital image processing techniques evaluated large scale grain size, porosity, and water storage capacity. The stockpiles were unsaturated, clast supported structures with features typical of end-tipped deposition. On average, 17% of the material was <4.75 mm, where unsaturated water flow dominates. For water flow in matric fines of <4.75 mm, the estimated average residence time was 200 days to 1.1 years assuming 100% infiltration. Observations can support geochemical mass transport models to assist in future ARD predictions.
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• Subjects / Keywords

  • Acid rock drainage
  • Waste rock hydrology
  • Waste rock
  • ARD
  • Geotechnical
  • Digital image processing

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3NZ8115Q

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.