HANDBOOK
FOR WASTEROCK SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Mine Environment Neutral Drainage at CANMET-MMSL |
MEND Report
4.5.1-2
June 1994
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Acid rock
drainage (ARD) is a major environmental issue at mining properties
across Canada. ARD has been observed at virtually all types of mining
operations including base metal, precious metal, uranium, coal and
selected industrial mineral operations. Over the past 20 years,
a series of monitoring techniques have been developed to predict
the potential for ARD at mining sites and to monitor the acid generating
characteristics of mine rock piles. There are a myriad of techniques
available but little published data as to which techniques are most
commonly used, which techniques are most cost-effective and more
importantly which techniques provide the best data.
In order to
provide guidance to the industry, the MEND Secretariat issued a
contract to SENES Consultants Limited in 1992 to conduct a literature
Review of Waste Rock Sampling Techniques. The Review provided a
comprehensive list and description of sampling techniques along
with a suggested guide to addressing waste rock sampling requirements
for the exploration, operation and closure phases of a mining project.
The Review did not provide guidance as to what techniques were most
commonly applied at Canadian mining properties nor did it recommend
any specific procedures as being preferred or industry standards.
In an effort
to provide a more interactive review with industry and government,
a second phase of the project included a detailed survey of waste
rock sampling practices currently being applied at sites across
North America, Australia and Europe. These data were summarized
and a draft position paper was prepared by SENES which highlighted
industry practice and preferred monitoring techniques, where possible.
This draft position paper was used as the basis for an experts workshop
held in Toronto, 11 and 12 March 1994. This workshop included a
panel of 12 experts from industry, research organizations and government
and was attended by 18 observers. The detailed proceedings are available
on request from MEND. A list of persons who completed the survey
and the participants at the experts workshop is provided in Appendix
A.
Following
the experts workshop, the draft position paper was updated and expanded
to form this Handbook for Waste Rock Sampling Techniques. The Review
was also updated to include the results of the survey, the information
presented at the experts workshop, and any other new information
presented in the Handbook.
The Handbook
is a concise summary of currently available sampling techniques.
It is assumed that the reader of this Handbook is familiar with
each of the waste rock sampling techniques described and discussed
in the Review. Both the Review and the Handbook are available through
CANMET. We recommend that the interested reader read both documents.
The Review should be consulted when a detailed description and comparison
of waste rock sampling techniques is required. The Handbook should
be consulted when a concise summary of sampling techniques available
and recommended is required.
In Chapter
2, this Handbook briefly addresses: representative sampling, sampling
program design, data management and quality assurance and control.
In Chapter
3, each category of waste rock sampling (chemical characterization,
water monitoring, gas sampling, etc.) is discussed in a common format
under the following headings:
- Possible
Methods;
- Objectives;
- Background;
- Rating;
- Limitations
and Advantages;
- Recommended
Procedures;
- Requirements;
- Cost; and
- References.
Chapter 4
contains a summary of recommended techniques for obtaining information
for: (a) rough cost estimates to be used for decision making regarding
management, maintenance, monitoring and closure of ARD sites; (b)
prediction (modelling) of potential ARD; and (c) identifying additional
sample locations/sample types and associated analyses that should
be considered for providing valuable supplementary information for
decision making.
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