Protecting our environment - managing mines' environmental liabilities
Friday 4 January 2008
University of Newcastle researchers are developing a new model to manage one of the biggest environmental liabilities facing the world's mining industry - potential contaminants in former open cut mines.
Professor Daichao Sheng and Professor John Carter from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment have secured an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant of $330,000 for the project.
"Currently, when an open cut mine is closed, it is usually covered by an engineered layer of soil fill to contain the mine waste," Professor Sheng said.
"Infiltration of rainwater through the cover can lead to acid mine drainage, which occurs when sulphides in mine waste react with oxygen and water, releasing contaminants such as iron, aluminium, manganese and other toxic heavy metals into the groundwater and surface water.
"Acid mine drainage is one of the biggest environmental liabilities facing the world's mining industry. We are working on the development of a model which predicts the longterm performance of the engineered soil cover, taking into account factors such as climate change, predicted rainfalls and droughts, the natural ecosystem, and many other variables."
The Australian mineral resource industry generates more solid waste than any other industrial or municipal sector.
This proposed research project falls into the national research priority of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia by addressing the goal of Soil Loss, Salinity and Acidity.
The University of Newcastle will be closed for the Christmas break from 5pm, Tuesday 18 December 2007 and reopen Monday 7 January 2008.
During this time, urgent media inquiries can be directed to the following staff:
Wednesday 19 December to Thursday 27 December - Kate Robinson, Media and Public
Relations Manager, on 0408 115 467.
Friday 28 December to Sunday 6 January - Katie Porritt, Media and Public Relations Coordinator, on 0418 445 888.
Best wishes from the University of Newcastle Media and Public Relations team for a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
