The future direction of pit lakes: part 1, Research needs

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Abstract

Pit lakes are common features of open pit mining and can present significant risks, and yet can also provide beneficial end use opportunities. Many processes that influence the magnitude of these risks and opportunities remains poorly understood, which presents a challenge to pit lake closure and management. In this two-part manuscript, four pit lake subject matter experts from Germany, Canada, Australia, and the USA recommend focus areas for researchers (Part 1) and strategies to structurally improve the practice of pit lake closure for mining industry regulators and corporate sustainability officers (Part 2). In this Part 1, we recommend nine research areas, organized by order of physico-chemical and ecological complexity, where greater understanding of fundamental pit lake processes would lead to improved pit lake management and reuse. Our intent is to guide the direction of emerging and future pit lake research by academic and industry research teams, with funding and oversight from industry and government.

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Passive treatment of acid mine drainage in bioreactors using sulfate-reducing bacteria: critical review and research needs.

Carmen-Mihaela Neculita, Gerald J. Zagury, Bruno Bussière (2007)

Acid mine drainage (AMD), characterized by low pH and high concentrations of sulfate and heavy metals, is an important and widespread environmental problem related to the mining industry. Sulfate-reducing passive bioreactors have received much attention lately as promising biotechnologies for AMD treatment. They offer advantages such as high metal removal at low pH, stable sludge, very low operation costs, and minimal energy consumption. Sulfide precipitation is the desired mechanism of contaminant removal; however, many mechanisms including adsorption and precipitation of metal carbonates and hydroxides occur in passive bioreactors. The efficiency of sulfate-reducing passive bioreactors is sometimes limited because they rely on the activity of an anaerobic microflora [including sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)] which is controlled primarily by the reactive mixture composition. The most important mixture component is the organic carbon source. The performance of field bioreactors can also be limited by AMD load and metal toxicity. Several studies conducted to find the best mixture of natural organic substrates for SRB are reviewed. Moreover, critical parameters for design and long-term operation are discussed. Additional work needs to be done to properly assess the long-term efficiency of reactive mixtures and the metal removal mechanisms. Furthermore, metal speciation and ecotoxicological assessment of treated effluent from on-site passive bioreactors have yet to be performed.