Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The presence of existing waste rock stockpiles at the Detour Lake Project dating from operation of the mine from 1983 to 1999 presents a valuable opportunity to understand the performance of waste rock under site conditions, which can be used for water quality predictions. These waste piles have 16 years of operating history and 10 years of post closure history as active large kinetic test plots. Ongoing test work can continue the time clock for assessing the future reactivity of similar rock types from the new mine. This will contribute to the estimation of risks for the post closure period, which will influence the closure security required over the mine life.An investigation of the existing piles as a research project was developed with the following objectives: 1) to develop more data that will demonstrate the low reactivity of the Detour Gold waste rock to address concerns of acid rock drainage risks for closure; 2) to minimize the closure financial assurance costs during the mine life and after closure by more completely characterizing the geochemistry of various rock types; and 3) to obtain data from the historic dumps to assist in designing the future waste rock stockpiles. This may be a segregation program or a blended waste rock plan if segregation is not practical.The proposed research will improve techniques to predict, control, mitigate and prevent ARD in full scale waste rock impoundments, both during construction and following long term closure. Improved techniques will assist Canadian mining companies with reducing their liability while protecting the natural environment.