There is no doubt that the resources extracted from mining are critical to our way of life. Likely, you’re reading this on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Mining touches all our lives daily (in addition to metals used in electronics, think about that can of soda you are drinking, or the aggregate used to pave your driveway). The industry works hard to make sure the net impact is positive. 

   However, the waste associated with mining, both past and present, is an unavoidable result of conventional mineral processing. In the future it may be possible to extract metals like copper and gold without crushing and grinding the ore down to fine particle size and adding considerable quantities of liquid, resulting in conventional tailings.

    What are the challenges associated with conventional tailings? Well, it is all about water. Managing seepage from the tailings themselves, monitoring pore water pressure within the tailings dams or designing facilities to safely store or pass flood events. Because such a significant quantity of water is added during mineral processing, “conventional” tailings dams store the tailings as a slurry. Water within the tailing material is either evaporated, migrates as seepage or remains entrained within the tailings impoundment. Removing water prior to disposal through various means is considered “alternative” disposal. Mining low grades of ore has resulted in increased water use per unit of production. In some cases, the availability of water is one of the greatest constraints on mine development.

Internet: <www.stantec.com> (adapted).