The Use of "Enhanced" Moisture Store-And-Release Cover Systems over Reactive Mine Waste in Cold and Warm Semi-Arid Climates

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Christensen ◽  
M. O'Kane
Keyword(s):  
Mine Waste ◽  
Cover Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals The importance of plant water use on evapotranspiration covers in semi-arid Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 11911-11940 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schneider ◽  
S. Arnold ◽  
D. Doley ◽  
D. R. Mulligan ◽  
T. Baumgartl
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Vapour Pressure Deficit ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Plant Water Use ◽  
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Cover Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. We estimated the evapotranspiration (ET) for an area vegetated with characteristic semi-arid native Australian plant species on ET mine waste cover systems. These systems aim to minimise drainage into underlying hazardous wastes by maximising evaporation (E) from the soil surface and transpiration from vegetation. An open top chamber was used to measure diurnal and daily ET of two plant species – Senna artemisioides (silver cassia) and Sclerolaena birchii (galvanised burr) – after a simulated rainfall event, as well as E from bare soil. Both ET and E decreased with increasing time after initial watering. Different temporal patterns were observed for daily ET from the two plant species and E from bare soil, revealing Senna artemisioides as intensive and Sclerolaena birchii as extensive water exploiters. A strong positive linear relationship was identified between ET (and E), and the atmospheric water demand represented by the vapour pressure deficit. The relationship always was more pronounced in the morning than in the afternoon, indicating a diminishing water supply from the soil associated with a declining unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the afternoon. The slopes of the regression lines were steepest for Senna artemisioides, reflecting its intensive water-exploiting characteristics. We used the derived estimates of ET and E to predict the effect of species composition on plot ET in relation to total vegetation coverage. Although both species proved suitable for an operational ET cover system, vegetation coverage should exceed at least 50% in order to markedly influence plot ET, a value which is likely to be unsustainable in semi-arid climates.

The limited impact of vegetation on the water balance of mine waste cover systems in semi-arid Australia

Ecohydrology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Arnold ◽  
A. Schneider ◽  
D. Doley ◽  
T. Baumgartl
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
Cover Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

Field experimental cells to assess hydrogeological behaviour of store-and-release covers made with phosphate mine waste

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 1255-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Bossé ◽  
Bruno Bussière ◽  
Rachid Hakkou ◽  
Abdelkabir Maqsoud ◽  
Mostafa Benzaazoua
Keyword(s):  
Acid Rock Drainage ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Mine Wastes ◽  
Acid Rock ◽  
Release Capacity ◽  
Cover Systems ◽  
Phosphate Mine ◽  
Hydrogeological Behaviour

A field investigation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of store-and-release (SR) covers made with different phosphate mine wastes in reducing water infiltration (system inclination and surface runoff were neglected) and controlling acid rock drainage (ARD) generation. Four instrumented experimental cells were constructed with different SR layer configurations (two thicknesses and three materials) placed over a capillary break layer. To assess the hydrogeological behaviour of these cover systems, volumetric water content, matric suction, and meteorological monitoring time trends were studied for a period of 1.5 years under actual and extreme conditions typical of an arid climate. Under natural climatic conditions, all net infiltration was released to the atmosphere by the physical process of evaporation (regardless of SR layer thickness and type). Although high surface matric suction (>3000 kPa) decreased the evaporation rate (or release capacity) during the drying period, field tests showed that the studied scenarios limited deep water infiltration even under extreme rainfall events. The release capacity of the SR layer was slightly lower for cover systems made with the finer-grained mine waste (phosphate limestone tailings). This study showed that, for a one-dimensional (1D) condition, the tested phosphate mine wastes have the appropriate hydrogeological properties to be used as components of SR covers under conditions at the Kettara mine site, located near Marrakech, Morocco.

scholarly journals Wild Plants for the Phytostabilization of Phosphate Mine Waste in Semi-Arid Environments: A Field Experiment

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Hamza Zine ◽  
Sara Elgadi ◽  
Rachid Hakkou ◽  
Eleni G. Papazoglou ◽  
Laila Midhat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Wild Plant Species ◽  
Phosphate Mine ◽  
Semi Arid

The management of mine waste has become an urgent issue, especially in semi-arid environments. In this context, and with an aim to inhibit the oxidation of the sulfide tailings of the abandoned mine of Kettara in Morocco, a store-and-release (SR) cover made of phosphate mine waste (PW) was implemented. In order to guarantee its long-term performance, phytostabilization by local wild plant species is currently the most effective and sustainable solution. This study aimed to assess the growth performance and phytostabilization efficiency of five local wild plant species to grow on the SR cover made of PW. A field experiment was conducted for two growing seasons (2018 and 2019), without amendments and with the minimum of human care. PW and the aboveground and belowground parts of the studied plant species were collected and analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were also calculated. Despite the hostile conditions of the mining environment, the five plant species showed promising growth performances as follows: Atriplex semibaccata > Vicia sativa > Launaea arborescens > Peganum harmala > Asparagus horridus. The five plants showed high accumulation capacity of the trace elements, with the highest concentrations in belowground tissue. Principal component analysis distinguished A. semibaccata as having a high concentration of Cu and As, while Asparagus horridus had higher concentrations of Cd and Zn. In contrast, P. harmala, V. sativa, and L. arborescens demonstrated affinity regarding Ni. According to the BCF (<1) and TF (<1), these plant species could be used as effective phytostabilizers of the studied trace elements. The present study showed that local wild plant species have a great potential for the phytostabilization of PW, and could ensure the long-term efficiency of SR cover.

scholarly journals Quantification of the inevitable: the influence of soil macrofauna on soil water movement in rehabilitated open-cut mine land

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 853-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Arnold ◽  
E. R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Soil Development ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Functional Dynamics ◽  
Cover Systems ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Mine Sites ◽  
Cover Design

Abstract. Recolonisation of soil by macrofauna (especially ants and termites) in rehabilitated open-cut mine sites is inevitable. In these highly disturbed landscapes, soil invertebrates play a major role in soil development (macropore configuration, nutrient cycling, bioturbation, etc.) and can influence hydrological processes such as infiltration and seepage. Understanding and quantifying these ecosystem processes is important in rehabilitation design, establishment and subsequent management to ensure progress to the desired end-goal, especially in waste cover systems designed to prevent water reaching and transporting underlying hazardous waste materials. However, soil macrofauna are typically overlooked during hydrological modelling, possibly due to uncertainties on the extent of their influence, which can lead to failure of waste cover systems or rehabilitation activities. We propose that scientific experiments under controlled conditions are required to quantify (i) macrofauna – soil structure interactions, (ii) functional dynamics of macrofauna taxa, and (iii) their effects on macrofauna and soil development over time. Such knowledge would provide crucial information for soil water models, which would increase confidence in mine waste cover design recommendations and eventually lead to higher likelihood of rehabilitation success of open-cut mining land.

scholarly journals Quantification of the inevitable: the influence of soil macrofauna on soil water movement in rehabilitated open-cut mined lands

SOIL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Arnold ◽  
E. R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Soil Development ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Functional Dynamics ◽  
Cover Systems

Abstract. Recolonisation of soil by macrofauna (especially ants, termites and earthworms) in rehabilitated open-cut mine sites is inevitable and, in terms of habitat restoration and function, typically of great value. In these highly disturbed landscapes, soil invertebrates play a major role in soil development (macropore configuration, nutrient cycling, bioturbation, etc.) and can influence hydrological processes such as infiltration, seepage, runoff generation and soil erosion. Understanding and quantifying these ecosystem processes is important in rehabilitation design, establishment and subsequent management to ensure progress to the desired end goal, especially in waste cover systems designed to prevent water reaching and transporting underlying hazardous waste materials. However, the soil macrofauna is typically overlooked during hydrological modelling, possibly due to uncertainties on the extent of their influence, which can lead to failure of waste cover systems or rehabilitation activities. We propose that scientific experiments under controlled conditions and field trials on post-mining lands are required to quantify (i) macrofauna–soil structure interactions, (ii) functional dynamics of macrofauna taxa, and (iii) their effects on macrofauna and soil development over time. Such knowledge would provide crucial information for soil water models, which would increase confidence in mine waste cover design recommendations and eventually lead to higher likelihood of rehabilitation success of open-cut mining land.

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