mine water management and treatment

Mine Water Management and Treatment

January 2021

Mine water treatment and management

©2020 Wood. All Rights Reserved.2

Comprehensive expertise in

mine water management

including the study of

groundwater, surface water,

mine process water and acid

rock drainage. We have piloted,

designed and reviewed

processes for over

200 treatment facilities and

plants worldwide.

Range of services


▪ Full range of process technologies and experience in meeting low environmental limits

▪ Design and construction experience for harsh climates, remote locations and high elevation

▪ Experienced in developing models necessary to optimize water use and minimize treatment

▪ Service capabilities range from conceptual design, through pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, to detailed design, commissioning and optimization

Process – typical applications


• Depending on the discharge limits, different technologies are employed individually, or in

combination. Typical processes utilized include:

- High density sludge treatment for metals,

and can provide some sulphate removal

- TSS removal with Ultra-filtration or

multi-media filtration (to meet total

metal limits, or as pre-treatment for the

next stage)

- Reverse Osmosis, IX, Barium precipitation

or Ettringite process for sulphate or

overall TDS removal (can require some or

all of preceding processes)

- Residuals treatment – can be one of the

most difficult issues

• If the effluent contains nitrate/ nitrite ammonia, then biological treatment may be required

• Se treatment to very low levels typically with biological treatment

Geological and hydrogeological sciences


Investigation and management

• Geophysical survey and analysis (airborne electromagnetic (AEM), seismic, gravity)

• Drilling program development and management

• Ground and surface water monitoring design and implementation

• Vadose zone modeling (HYDRUS)

• Soils and groundwater remediation

Water resource development and management

• Source water assessment and planning

• Groundwater exploration, development and permitting

• Water rights

• Well design

• Well-field development and pump testing

• Groundwater Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)

• Wellhead protection

Groundwater supply and modeling

• Hydrogeologic characterization

• Flow modeling (ModFlow / ModPath)

• Fate and transport modeling (FEFLOW, MT3D, RT3D)

• Water balance modeling (GoldSim)

Geochemistry for mining


• Acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction and evaluation using static and kinetic testing

• Design and implementation of geochemical baseline studies

• Embankment construction materials

• Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of ore stockpiles, waste rock and tailings

• Leading edge research, innovative solutions

• Mine closure

• Pit lake hydrology modeling

• Prediction modeling

• Preparation of remedial investigation / feasibility study (RI/FS)

• Water quality modeling (CE-QUAL-W2)

• Water treatment of mining process effluents, surface water and groundwater.

Pilot plant for mine water treatment


• 40 foot high-cube container

• Ready for road, train, and maritime transport

• Flexible, robust and interchangeable

• Treatment of sulphate, heavy metals, acids, total suspended

solids, cyanide, metalloids and organic contaminants

• Equipped with an integrated membrane filtration

• Includes laboratory equipment

• Insulated and electrically heated

• Has been used so far at:

• Henderson (Colorado)

• Leviathan (California)

• Somincor (Portugal)

Relevant Project Experience

8 ©2020 Wood. All Rights Reserved.

Relevant Mine Water Treatment Studies and Projects


* Andina (Chile) 8,000 1,820 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Bell Mine (British Columbia) 4,625 1,060 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Brenda (British Columbia) 4,000 910 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Britannia (British Columbia) 4,500 1,030 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Buckhorn (Washington) 140 40 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Cajamarquilla Effluent Treatment

Plant - Zn and Cd Refinery (Peru)450 110 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

CEZinc (Quebec) 1,500 350 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Confidential – Copper/Zinc (Peru) 6,000 1,370 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Confidential - Gold (Peru)≥2,000

(multiple)

≥450

(multiple)✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Confidential (Alaska) 1,500 350 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Equity Silver (British Columbia) 2,500 570 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Former Hard Rock Site (Colorado) 1,500 350 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Geco/Willroy (Ontario) 4,100 940 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Gilt Edge (South Dakota) 250 60 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Henderson (Colorado) 3,000 690 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Iron Ore Company of Canada

(Newfoundland and Labrador)20,000 4,550 ✓ ✓ ✓

Kidd (Ontario) 370 90 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Kingsmill (Peru) 22,200 5,050 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

LaRonde (Quebec) 1,550 360 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Mont-Wright (Quebec) (2 plants)72,119

(2 plants)

16,380

(2 plants)✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Mount Emmons, Colorado 2,400 550 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Neves-Corvo (Portugal)5,000

(2 plants)

1140

(2 plants)✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Norbec (Quebec) 3,000 690 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Pebble (Alaska)85,000

(4 plants)

19300

(4 plants)✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Pogo (Alaska) 250 60 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Pogo Exploration (Alaska) 100 30 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Rabbit Lake (Saskatchewan) 3,450 790 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Rosia Montana (Romania) 3,100 710 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Rubicon Minerals 3,000 690 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

* Superfund Site (California) 100 30 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Totten (Ontario) 550 130 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Vancouver Wharves (British

Columbia)2,000 460 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

TestingEng /

Design

Procure &

Const.

Mgmt

Start-up

Treatment Technology Implemented / Recommended

Metals

and AsTSS

Nitrogen

speciesMo

TDS incl

sulphate

Concept /

Feas

Study

Ferric co-

pptBa / Ett RO / NFProject Name / Location

Flow rate

USGPM

Flow rate

m3/hHDS

Polymer

aided

precip.

Oxidat-ion

pH

control/

precip.

IX FilterConst.

Wetland

Owner’s Process Engineer

Target Constituents Services Provide

Biolog-icalToxicity

reduct-ion

* Ongoing projects

Abbreviations: Ba=barium, Const=constructed, Const Mgmt=construction management, Co-ppt=co-precipitation, Eng = Engineering, Ett=Ettringite, Feas=feasibility, HDS=High density sludge, IX=ion exchange, NF=nanofiltration, RO=reverse osmosis

Recent and ongoing water treatment projects


Teck

• Louvem - HDS Plant – Study, detailed design, QC, Canada

• Red Dog – Review of upgrades and improvements to existing water treatment

systems, AK, US

• Red Dog A&A Exploration – Conceptual study of advanced treatment, AK, US

• BC Coal Mines – Study and detailed design of water management and passive

treatment systems for selenium removal, BC, Canada

Freeport-McMoRan

• Confidential – Conceptual, pre-feasibility, and piloting of treatment options. Ongoing detailed design of HDS/Filtration plant, CO, US

Recent and ongoing water treatment projects


Barrick

• Nickel Plate – Feasibility study of biological and HDS treatment at closed mine, BC, Canada

BP (Atlantic Richfield)

• Confidential – Turnkey design and construction of advanced treatment of tailings pond effluent, MT, US

• Confidential – Conceptual and pre-feasibility study of advanced pit water treatment options, MT, USA

• Confidential - Ongoing studies and detailed design, CA, US

Army Corps/EPA

• Bunker Hill – Turnkey design and construction of cut-off wall and installation of HDS/filtration, ID, US

Detailed design and procurement


Mont-Wright Mine, Quebec, Canada

44,000 GPM (plant 1), 29,000

GPM (plant 2) Both based on

the Densadeg Lamella

clarifier technology

Sludge drying plant and

floating intake structure

DesignArcelorMittal

Detailed design and procurement support

Two red water treatment plant designs

ARD Treatment


Superfund Site, California, United States

Currently upgrading the

HDS treatment plant to

handle additional flow

sources with very high

acidity / sulfate

TreatmentConfidential client

Designed, constructed and commissioned the HDS treatment plant

Treatment of ARD at a former mine site, discharging effluent to nearby creek

Managing water level and compliance


Berkeley Pit, Butte, Montana, United States

High-density sludge

treatment using lime-

based neutralization

Treating 7-10 million

gallons per day from pit

HDSBP Remediation Management

Treatment plant design and upgrade to manage water level and achieve discharge criteria to Silver Bow creek

Groundwater from surrounding aquifers has caused water to rise a foot per month since pit closure in 1982

Final design - issued for construction


Molybdenum Mine, Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States

Range of flows between

200-600 gpm

HDSConfidential

Detailed design of an HDS plant to treat water from the tailings impoundment for off-site discharge.

North America’s largest producer of primary molybdenum began operations in 1976 and is operated as an underground mine

Selecting technology for moly mine


Molybdenum Mine, Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States

Three selected options meet

stringent discharge criteria

Custom built trailer mobilized

to site for testing over three

months

HDSConfidential

Evaluate alternatives, select options, conduct pilot testing to treat process wastewater and seepage from tailings facility

North America’s largest producer of primary molybdenum began operations in 1976 and is operated as an underground mine

Water treatment plant upgrade


Bunker Hill, Kellogg, Idaho, United States

Involves multiple offices

and business units in the

U.S. and Canada

D/B/OUnited States Army Corps of Engineers

Upgrading central treatment plant to high density sludge process, groundwater collection system and slurry wall

sludge impoundment, discharge pipeline to surface water, operations and maintenance throughout project

Four-year, $48M Design, Build, Operate project

Pit Lake Modelling


Steep Rock Mine, Atikokan, Ontario, Canada

Natural refilling of the pit

lakes will be aided using

additional clean water

inflows and nutrient

addition to develop a

stratified clean water cap

Modelling

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Conceptual rehabilitation plan including the development of a detailed pit lake model based on site monitoring data and

utilizing the GoldSim and CE-QUAL-W2 software packages to estimate the future condition of the pit lakes

Operated 1944-1979, largely by open pit extraction. Was one of the largest engineering projects undertaken in North America.

mine water management and treatment

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