SUSTAINABLE MINE REHABILITATION

Sustainable closure of coal mines in Australia remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges.  This issue is amplified when spoil characteristics make rehabilitation technically difficult and costly.  A significant proportion of mines in the Bowen Basin of Queensland, Australia, have dispersive spoil.  It is estimated that the current instantaneous liability for rehabilitating dispersive spoil dumps is $2 to $3 billion for the Bowen Basin alone and significantly more nationally.

This site communicates the results of a research project undertaken to apply risk-based principles of dispersive mine spoil behaviour to facilitate of cost-effective best management practices for mine rehabilitation.  A key output of this research program is a mechanistic model describing post-rehabilitation slope performance.  This is supported by a soil chemistry and nutrition calculator to provide key inputs relating to plant growth and amelioration of dispersive soil properties, plus a cost calculator to allow the financial impact of alternative rehabilitation scenarios to be investigated.  The model is supported by a set of Best Management Practices.

To access the dispersive spoil management model and associated tools contained in this site, please go the ACARP site to purchase the report at: https://www.acarp.com.au/ and search for “Applying risk-based principles of dispersive mine spoil behaviour to facilitate development of cost-effective best management practices”.