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11 Years of Evapotranspiration Cover Performance at the AA Leach Pad at Barrick Goldstrike Mines

11 Jahren Nach der Konstruktion eines Evapotranspirations-Abdeckungssystems auf dem AA Leach Pad der Barrick Goldstrike Mine

11 Años de Funcionamiento de una Cobertura de Evapotranspiración en la Plataforma de Lixiviación AA en la Mina Barrick Goldstrike

Barrick Goldstrike矿AA浸出垫腾发罩运行11年

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Abstract

The AA Leach Pad at Barrick Goldstrike Mine was reclaimed using an evapotranspiration (ET) cover designed to limit the infiltration of precipitation into the facility. Water content and matric potential sensor stations were installed in the cover and underlying leach material after cover system placement. Monitoring of the sensor nests continued for 11 years. Data indicates that the cover is performing well, limiting net percolation to less than 1 % of annual precipitation. The AA Leach Pad is the first large-scale closed mine waste facility that has been robustly monitored for a relatively long time in Nevada, USA. The results provide an understanding of ET cover system performance for closure of mine waste facilities and offer guidance for ET cover system requirements in other arid regions.

Zusammenfassung

Das AA Leach Pad der Barrick Goldstrike Mine wurde mit Hilfe eines Evapotranspirations (ET) Abdeckungssystems, welches die Niederschlagsinfiltration hemmt, saniert. Wassergehalts- und Matrixpotenzial-Messsensoren sind stationsweise in die Abdeckung und in das unterlagernde Laugungsmaterial installiert worden. Anhand von nunmehr 11-jährigen Zeitreihen ist die hohe Effizienz der Abdeckung, die weniger als 1 % des Jahresniederschlags versickern lässt, zu erkennen. Das AA Leach Pad ist als erste großflächige Bergbau-Abfallanlage in Nevada (USA) mit solchen robusten und langfristig laufenden Messsystemen beobachtet worden. Die Ergebnisse geben verallgemeinerungsfähige Hinweise für die Konstruktion von ET Abdeckungssystem nach dem Stilllegen bergbaulicher Anlagen. Sie können als Anleitung für grundlegende Anforderungen an ET-Abdeckungssysteme in ariden Gebieten genutzt werden.

Resumen

La plataforma de lixiviación AA en la mina Barrick Goldstrike fue mejorada usando una cobertura de evapotranspiración (ET) para limitar la infiltración de la precipitación. Sensores de contenido de agua fueron instalados en la cobertura y debajo del material de lixiviación después de la ubicación del sistema de cobertura. El monitoreo de los sensores continuó por 11 años. Los datos indican que el comportamiento de la cobertura es adecuado y limita la percolación neta a menos del 1 % de la precipitación anual. La plataforma de lixiviación AA es la primera a gran escala que ha sido monitoreada por un tiempo relativamente largo en Nevada, USA. Los resultados proporcionan una comprensión del desempeño de este sistema de cobertura para los residuos en el cierre de minas y ofrece una guía sobre los requerimientos necesarios para este tipo de coberturas en otras regiones áridas.

抽象

Barrick Goldstrike矿AA浸出垫复垦采用了腾发罩设计,以限制降水下渗。在铺设腾发罩之后,腾发罩内和浸出材料之下都安装了含水量和基质势传感器。传感器系统已持续监测11年。监测数据表明,腾发罩运行良好,成功地将净入渗量限制在小于年降雨量1 %以内。AA浸出垫是美国内华达州首个大规模封闭式矿废物处理工程,已成功监测运行较长时间。本成果为矿山废物封闭式处理利用腾发罩系统和其他干旱地区设计腾发罩系统提供成功经验与指导。

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Acknowledgments

This paper was generated from the AA Leach Pad reclamation program of BGMI. The inputs from all team members are gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Dr. Mark Ankeny from the Idaho National Laboratory, Mr. Steven Viert from Cedar Creek Associates, Dr. Dale Hammermeister from GeoSystem Analysis, Inc., Mr. Greg Newman from Newmans Geotechnique Inc., Ms. Mayana Kissiova from Golder, and Professor Michel Aubertin from École Polytechnique de Montréal for their valuable contributions to this project. Finally, special thanks to Barrick Gold Corporation for providing permission to publish this technical summary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Barrick Gold of North America, Inc, 460 West 50 North, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Guosheng Zhan & Joe Giraudo

  2. GeoSystems Analysis, Inc, Hood River, OR, USA

    Jason Keller

  3. GeoSystems Analysis, Inc, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Mike Milczarek

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  1. Guosheng Zhan
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  2. Jason Keller
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  3. Mike Milczarek
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  4. Joe Giraudo
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Correspondence to Guosheng Zhan.

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Zhan, G., Keller, J., Milczarek, M. et al. 11 Years of Evapotranspiration Cover Performance at the AA Leach Pad at Barrick Goldstrike Mines. Mine Water Environ 33, 195–205 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0268-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0268-6

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