Mining waste characterization in the perspective of the European mining waste directive

Bruno Lemiere (1) , Francis Cottard (1) , Patrice Piantone (1)

1 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)

Risk assessment of metal contaminated sites including old mining sites requires geochemical methods of analysis, modelling and long-term prediction. This workshop focuses on current research developments and best available methods/practices within this field of increasing importance. The specific topics include combining field measurements and reactive transport modelling at contaminated sites, methods of long-term prediction of environmental impacts from mining wastes, use of soil solution partition coefficients (Kd) for assessment of risk of groundwater contamination, and techniques for assessment of metal contaminant availability to plants. The present talk focusses on mining waste characterisation, in relation with EU directive 2006/21/EC on mining waste, and the subsequent management of waste rock and ore processing waste, and its consequences on mining sites management.

Mots clés: waste rock; inert waste; Tailings dump

Domaines: Géochimie; Ingénierie de l'environnement

Bruno Lemiere, Francis Cottard, Patrice Piantone. Mining waste characterization in the perspective of the European mining waste directive. 25th International Applied Geochemistry Symposium (IAGS), Aug 2011, Rovaniemi, Finland. ⟨hal-01188726⟩