Seeping waters from tailings dams contain high levels of environmentally
dangerous elements such as Sulphate and Arsenic. The release of these
elements into natural systems is controlled by the internal chemical and
physical processes within tailings dams. Lime is added during ore
processing to aid the recovery of ore minerals; the added lime can
subsequently act to buffer the acid-generating potential of tailings.
This project is investigating the long term changes in the tailings
chemistry and will model what happens to seeping water when the lime
buffering acidity is consumed.
