Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Management

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Earth Systems has extensive experience and a proven track record in the management and remediation of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) associated with sulfidic materials at mine sites, quarries and acid sulfate soils (ASS). Our expertise encompasses all aspects of AMD management, including identification, characterisation, prediction, prevention, control and treatment of AMD.

Earth Systems has also developed innovative AMD risk assessment techniques (such as software to determine geochemical characteristics and the likelihood of AMD (e.g. ABATES, AMDACT) and techniques to rapidly quantify sulphide oxidation rates (OxCon)) and prevention and treatment technologies (such as GaRDs, NBT and AcidBLOCK).

Services Provided

• Development of comprehensive site AMD Management and Monitoring Plans, including prevention, control and treatment strategies.
• Site AMD auditing, including AMD risk assessment and management system audits throughout all phases of project development.
• Identification and characterisation of soil/rock samples based on geochemical static tests (acid base accounting) and kinetic tests.
• Baseline studies and assessment of the risk of AMD generation.
• Waste rock dump siting and design.
• TSF impact assessment, planning and management.
• Incorporating long term AMD management or prevention strategies into Rehabilitation and Closure Plans.
• Training workshops for regulators, managers, supervisors and operators on AMD issues.

  

Representative Experience

Recent projects undertaken by Earth Systems include:

• Identification, characterisation, prediction and management of AMD at numerous sites in all states of Australia, as well as Indonesia, Laos, Mali, New Zealand, Peru, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.
• Provision of AMD services to various mining industries including coal, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, iron ore, diamonds, mineral sands and pyrite, and ASS sites, in all phases of project development—exploration, feasibility, impact assessment, construction, operations and post-closure.
• Development of new software to facilitate AMD management  (eg. ABATES, AMDACT).
• Development of OxCon Modules (OCM), a new kinetic technique for rapidly quantifying sulfide oxidation rates.
• Development of innovative, cost effective technologies for preventing / minimising AMD from underground mines, tailings and waste rock (eg. GaRDS, NBT, AcidBLOCK) .
• Development of patented AMD treatment equipment, used in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, the US and Peru.
• Senior authors of the Leading Practice Handbook on “Managing AMD” for the Australian Federal Government. 
• Presentation of numerous workshops and short-courses on AMD management.