Numerical modelling of transfer processes in a waste rock pile undergoing the temporal evolution of its heterogeneous material properties

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment

Volumn 29, Issue 6, 2015, Pages 499-520

  Lahmira, Belkacem ^a   Lefebvre, René ^a  

^a CENTRE EAU TERRE ENVIRONNEMENT   (Canada)

Author keywords

acid mine drainage; heat transfer; low permeability covers; multiphase fluid flow; numerical modelling; waste rock

Indexed keywords

DRAINAGE; HEAT TRANSFER; MULTIPHASE FLOW; NUMERICAL MODELS; OXYGEN SUPPLY; ROCKS; SOLID WASTES; TRANSPORT PROPERTIES; WATER MANAGEMENT;

ACID MINE DRAINAGE; HETEROGENEOUS MATERIAL PROPERTIES; HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES; LOW PERMEABILITY; MULTI-PHASE FLUID FLOW; TEMPERATURE CHANGES; TEMPORAL EVOLUTION; WASTE ROCKS;

PILES;

EID: 84945462382     PISSN: 17480930     EISSN: 17480949     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/17480930.2014.889362     Document Type: Article

References (27)

1. R.Lefebvre, D.Hockley, J.Smolensky, and P.Gélinas, Multiphase transfer processes in waste rock piles producing acid mine drainage. Part (1): Conceptual model and system characterization, J. Contam. Hydrol. 52 (2001), pp. 137–164.
2. O.Anterrieu, M.Chouteau, M.Aubertin, and B.Bussière, A Geophysical Investigation of the Internal Structure of a Waste Rock Pile, Proceedings of the Mining and the Environment IV Conference, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, October 19–27, 2007.
3. R.Lefebvre, A.Lamontagne, and C.Wels, Numerical Simulations of Acid Rock Drainage in the Sugar Shack South Rock Pile, Questa Mine, New Mexico, U.S.A, Proceedings, 2nd Joint IAH-CNC and CGS Groundwater Specialty Conference, 54th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Calgary, Canada, September 16–19, 2001, pp. 1568–1575.
4. M.Phillip, D.Hockley, B.Dawson, W.Kuit, and M.O’Kane, Sullivan Mine Fatalities Incident: Technical Investigations and Findings, The 8th ICARD International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Skelleftea, Sweden, June 22–26, 2009.
5. C.Nichol, L.Smith, and R.Beckie, Field-scale experiments of unsaturated flow and solute transport in a heterogeneous porous medium, Water Resour. Res. 41 (2005), pp. 1–11.
6. O.Fala, J.Molson, M.Aubertin, I.Dawood, B.Bussière, and R.P.Chapuis, A numerical modelling approach to assess long-term unsaturated flow and geochemical transport in a waste rock pile, Int. J. Surf. Min. Reclam. 27 (2012), pp. 38–55.
7. O.Sracek, M.Choquette, P.Gélinas, R.Lefebvre, and R.V.Nicholson, Geochemical characterization of acid mine drainage from a waste rock pile, Mine Doyon, Québec, Canada, J. Contam. Hydrol. 69 (2004), pp. 45–71.10.1016/S0169-7722(03)00150-5
8. B.Lahmira, Numerical modeling of physical processes affecting the behaviour of waste rock piles producing acid mine drainage. Ph.D. thesis, INRS, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec, Canada, p. 476, 2010. [In French].
9. B.Lahmira, R.Lefebvre, M.Aubertin, and B.Bussière, Modeling the Influence of Heterogeneity and Anisotropy on Physical Processes in ARD-producing Waste Rock Piles, Proceedings, 60th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 8th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 2007.
10. J.W.Molson, O.Fala, M.Aubertin, and B.Bussière, Numerical simulations of pyrite oxidation and acid mine drainage in unsaturated waste rock piles, J. Contam. Hydrol. 78 (2005), pp. 343–371.10.1016/j.jconhyd.2005.06.005
11. L.Smith and R.Beckie, Hydrologic and geochemical transport processes in mine waste rocks, in Environmental Aspects of Mine Wastes, J.L.Jambor, D.W.Blowes, and A.I.M.Ritchie, eds., Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short course Vol. 31, 2003, pp. 51–72.
12. B.Dawson, M.Phillip, and M.O’Kane, Sullivan Mine Fatalities Incident: Site Setting, Acid Rock Drainage Management, Land Reclamation and Investigation into the Fatalities, The 8th ICARD International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Skelleftea, Sweden, June 22–26, 2009.
13. B.Lahmira and R.Lefebvre, Numerical modeling of gas flow in the No. 1 shaft waste rock dump, sullivan mine, B.C., Canada, Research Report R-970, submitted to Teck Cominco, ISBN 978-2-89146-563-2. INRS, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec, Canada, July 2008, 90 p.
14. B.Lahmira, R.Lefebvre, D.Hockley, and M.Phillip, Sullivan Mine Fatalities Incident: Numerical Modeling of Gas Transport and Reversals in Flow Directions, Swedish Association of Mines, Minerals and Metal Producers (SveMin), The 8th ICARD International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Skelleftea, Sweden, June 22–26, 2009, 10 p.
15. R.Lefebvre, D.Hockley, J.Smolensky, and A.Lamontagne, Multiphase transfer processes in waste rock piles producing acid mine drainage, 2: Applications of numerical simulations, J. Contam. Hydrol. 52 (2001), pp. 165–186.
16. R.Lefebvre, A.Lamontagne, C.Wels, A.Mac, and G.Robertson, ARD production and water vapor transport at Questa Mine, in Tailings and Mine Waste ‘02, Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste, A.A. Balkema Publishers, Fort Collins, CO, January 27–30, 2002, pp. 479–488.
17. R.Lefebvre, Characterization and numerical modeling of acid mine drainage in waste rock dumps, Ph.D. thesis, Laval University, Québec, Canada, 1994, 375 p. [In French].
18. E.Y.Kuo and A.I.M.Ritchie, The Impact of Convection on the Overall Oxidation rate in Sulfidic Waste Rock Dumps, Proceedings of Sudbury ‘99, Mining and the Environment II, City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Vol. I, Paper AD23, 1999, pp. 211–220.
19. É.Bourque, Hydrologie d’une halde de stériles miniers affectée par le drainage minier acide, M.Sc. thesis, Laval University, Canada, 1994. [In French].
20. K.Pruess, TOUGH2 – A General Purpose Numerical Simulator for Multiphase Fluid and Heat Transfer, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA, LBL-29400, 1991, 102 p.
21. K.Pruess, C.Oldenburg, and G.Moridis, TOUGH2 User’s Guide, Version 2.0, Report LBNL-43134, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA, 1999, 198 p.
22. R.Lefebvre, C.Wels, and L.L.Findlater, Initial numerical simulations of ARD and air flow in the Grasberg overburden stockpiles, Papua, Indonesia, Report R-628 submitted to Freeport Indonesia, Tembagapura, Papua, INRS, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec, Canada, September 16, 2002, 70 p.
23. R.Lefebvre, Numerical simulation of gas convection in the wismut cover test pads area, Ronnenberg Mining District Germany, Research Report 1999-04, submitted to SRK Consulting, Vancouver, Canada, INRS, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec, Canada, 1999, 21 p.
24. M.vanGenuchtenM.Th., A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 44 (1980), pp. 892–898.10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x
25. M.Aubertin, O.Fala, B.Bussière, V.Martin, D.Campos, A.Gamache-Rochette, M.Chouteau, and R.P.Chapuis, Analyse des écoulements de l’eau en conditions non saturées dans les haldes à stériles, in Défis et perspectives: Symposium 2002 sur l’Environnement et les Mines [CD-ROM]. Rouyn-Noranda, Canada, 2002. [In French].
26. M.Aubertin and B.Bussière, Meeting Environmental Challenges for Mine Waste Management. Geotechnical News. September 2001, pp. 21–26.
27. B.Boldt-Leppin, M.O’Kane, and M.D.Haug, Soil Covers for Sloped Surfaces of Mine Waste Rock and Tailings, Proceedings of the Tailings and Mine Waste Conference, Fort Collins, CO, January 24–27, 1999, pp. 393–403.