TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mine Residue Management for Sustainable Mine Closure
This paper explores how mine residue management can support sustainable mine closure by reducing waste volumes, improving long-term stability, and recovering value from by-products. Through real-world case studies, it demonstrates how innovative treatment technologies can lower lifecycle costs and minimise environmental risk.
TECHNOLOGY
BioSulphide® and Selen-IX™ (Metal Recovery and Selenium Treatment)
APPLICATION
Mine residue management and water treatment during operations and closure
LOCATION
North America and South America (multiple case studies)
PUBLISHED
Mine Closure Conference 2015
AUTHORS
P. Littlejohn, D. Kratochvil, A. Consigny
SCOPE
Case studies covering copper recovery, arsenic management, and selenium treatment for sustainable closure
KEY TOPICS COVERED
- Mine residue management strategies across the full mine lifecycle
- Reducing waste volume and improving long-term stability
- Recovery of metal value to offset closure costs
- Arsenic and selenium treatment using alternative technologies
- Lifecycle cost reduction through sustainable water treatment design
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
Mine residue management is a critical factor in determining the long-term environmental and financial performance of mining operations. Residues generated from water treatment, tailings, and metallurgical processes must be managed over decades, often extending well beyond active mine life.
This paper presents three case studies demonstrating how novel technologies can improve sustainability and reduce lifecycle costs associated with residue management. These include copper recovery from legacy heap leach operations, arsenic treatment at a copper smelter, and selenium removal from mine-impacted water.
In the first case study, the BioSulphide® process enabled recovery of copper from low-grade stockpiles after mine closure, converting an environmental liability into a revenue stream. The process achieved over 99% copper recovery and generated a saleable copper sulphide product rather than waste sludge.
The second case study highlights arsenic management using sulphide precipitation, significantly reducing waste volume compared to traditional lime neutralisation. The resulting solids contained higher arsenic concentrations, reducing disposal requirements and improving water recovery.
The third case study focuses on selenium removal using the Selen-IX™ process, which combines ion exchange and electrochemical reduction to achieve ultra-low discharge limits. Compared to biological systems, the process produces stable inorganic residues and operates reliably under variable environmental conditions.
Across all case studies, the results demonstrate that effective residue management requires a lifecycle perspective, where waste reduction, stability, and value recovery are integrated into treatment design from the outset.
KEY FINDINGS
- Mine residue management significantly impacts long-term closure costs and environmental risk
- Metal recovery technologies can convert waste streams into revenue sources
- Alternative treatment methods reduce waste volume compared to conventional systems
- Stable, non-hazardous residues lower long-term liability and disposal requirements
- Lifecycle cost optimisation requires integrating treatment, recovery, and residue strategy