British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium

The importance of sample selection for the purpose of developing the waste rock management and conceptual closure plans at Kemess North Harrison, Bevin J.; Marsland, Rob

Abstract

The paper focuses on the decisions involved in selecting appropriate samples when initiating the kinetic testing program to aid in designing the waste rock management plan and assisting in the conceptual closure plan for the Kemess North Project. The kinetic testing program was intended to: (1) estimate the time to onset of acid rock drainage (ARD) generation for the rock groups where ARD was likely and uncertain to occur; (2) assess the leaching rates for both the acidic and neutral materials; and (3) establish a site specific segregation criterion for the uncertain materials. A total of 11 laboratory waste rock cells and two field leach pads were initiated from a database of over 1200 ABA samples. In addition, one tailings humidity cell was run. A brief summary of the static testing characteristics of the samples selected to undergo testing, the resulting time to onset of ARD and leaching rates will be presented. These results will be discussed in light of the resulting waste rock management plan and the overall closure concept for the project. Had the kinetic testing program continued, only five of the laboratory cells and both leach test pads were recommended to continue. The justification behind selecting those cells to continue is the final focus of the paper along with the conclusions of the testing program to date.

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