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Mitigation & Treatment of AMD at large copper porphyries (12 replies)
It seems that you're very much into AMD these days. The Pebble project is indeed a major issue with regard to AMD prediction.
I don't know if you've checked the following sites but they're worth checking out.
MEND reports website is worth checking.
I should think you also would want to review the two MAC short-course volumes on mine waste geochemistry - Jambor and Blowes (eds) 1994,Vol 22 and Jambor, Blowes and Ritchie (eds), 2003, Vol 31.
Although not directed specifically to AMD (and certainly not to water-treatment engineering), I still think Society of Economic Geology, Reviews in Economic Geology Vol 6 A and B (1999) remains relevant background, for example specifically with respect to geo environmental models (with specific discussions of porphyry coppers). For example Plumlee et al in Vol 6b, p. 373-432 includes water-quality data from Mount Washington, which should be relevant to your research. Also Filipek et al, p. 433-445 in the same volume (6B) has a very interesting example of prediction of acid production in porphyry waste rock, with some good examples of how detailed mineralogy (including by SEM) provides process information needed for strong predictions.
My bias is that good waste management and water treatment needs to be predicated on a sound understanding of the geochemistry/mineralogy and hydro geochemistry of reactivity in mined rocks and their processed outcomes.
Thank you all for the resource links - I have plenty of reading now!
Cu is a major contaminant of concern, because of possible impacts to salmon olfactory.
Copper is easy to remove using a chelating resin like Lewatit TP207. If the concentration is high enough, the recovered copper might even pay for the process.
We have a zero discharge treatment process. Have a look at http://www.glenjohncapital.com - There is an abstract explaining the process accompanied with a power point presentation recently used to present to the Federal Gov. I have more detailed information should you be interested.
The KNEW process looks interesting. When do you expect to have an operating plant?
Is sodium really the "silent killer"? Perhaps only in certain climates/meteorologies? Any comment on this?
I note that your original question was Mitigation and Treatment which I assume means that you are focusing on existing problem sites, rather than designing for prevention at new mines. However, I do agree that the same bias and even with existing problem sites, you need a sound understanding of the geochemistry and focus on source control rather than treatment. Treatment will be part of the mitigation effort, but you need to put in place systems that will ultimately eliminate the need to treatment. In the BC environment, these typically relate to oxidation control and pH control.
MEND publications is an excellent starting point and ICARD publications are also worthwhile. INAP is another possible link to follow and the GARD guide may also help.
Over time sodium is a killer where irrigation is necessary for crop survival. The Sunday’s river valley in South Africa is an example. With over 30 years of irrigation using water containing sodium 140ppm, which has resulted with soil that has over 2000 ppm sodium. Crop yields are dropping year over year.
There are hundreds of websites, but most are repetitive, redundant. What specific journals, conferences, websites, and books should I read? I am targeting large copper porphyries in British Columbia.What are the latest techniques and methods?