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Soil development and biomass feedstock production using pulp and paper residuals in mine reclamation

British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium; University of British Columbia. Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering

A concept was developed by SYLVIS to mitigate energy transition stress using innovative mine reclamation at Alberta coal mines. It involved using municipal biosolids as a soil amendment to develop a short rotation woody biomass plantation. The concept is adaptable, with layers of benefit offering value for mineral mine reclamation and can utilize residuals other than municipal biosolids. Taseko Mines partnered with West Fraser and SYLVIS Environmental to explore the feasibility and benefit of modifying this concept to use pulp residuals from West Fraser’s Cariboo Pulp and Paper mill in Quesnel, BC at Taseko’s Gibraltar mine in McLeese Lake, BC for reclaiming their tailings. The feasibility study was funded by Taseko, West Fraser, and British Columbia’s Clean BC program, representing new research into the adaptability of this residualsbased reclamation system. The Reclamation Feasibility Study was comprised of characterization of mill and mine residuals to ensure suitability as feedstocks in soil fabrication and/or as a soil amendment. A bench-scale soil mixing trial was conducted to determine fabricated mixes that optimized soil quality and characteristics while maximizing the use of priority residuals and meeting regulatory requirements. A willow establishment trial using fabricated soil mixes was designed to determine whether the selected fabricated soils were suitable to establish and sustain willow growth. The use of chemical fertilizer, irrigation water source, and willow variety were also examined. The selected soil was fabricated from tailings and pulp sludge as it maximized the use of priority residuals and produced the greatest willow biomass. Results show chemical fertilizer is not required and collection pond water from Gibraltar is suitable for willow irrigation. Tully Champion and Preble willow varieties were most suited to trial conditions representing operational mine reclamation.

Conference Paper

eng

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0437491

Non UBC

Other

DSpace