Kumine

A key need in the mining industry is the capacity to proactively manage wastewater throughout the mining life cycle. Mining wastewater systems are complex systems both hydrologically and geochemically based on a diversity of characteristics such as the location, size, geology, climate, microbiology, and variable inputs. These water systems must be adaptively managed to prevent impacts to the environment, meet regulatory requirements, maintain a site’s social license to operate, and achieve closure objectives. The mining, milling and other processing activities from the operation expose naturally occurring sulfide bearing minerals and elemental sulfur in significant quantities, which create conditions that favor acid generating oxidation reactions that can be detrimental to the surrounding environment. The liability associated with acid mine drainage is estimated to be $5 billion within Canada and $100 billion worldwide.