IM4DC and Peru’s Universidad de Ingenieria and Tecnologia (UTEC) conducted a course on life of mine cycle and sustainable mine closure in September 2014 in Lima, Peru.
Led by Dr Thomas Baumgartl and Dr Mansour Edraki from the SMI Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR) at The University of Queensland, the three-day interactive course covered the following topics:
- Introduction and definition of terms
- Basics of soil, water and vegetation management in the context of mining
- Examples of positive and negative outcomes of mine closure
- Mine closure planning and stakeholder involvement
- Designing a progressive rehabilitation
- Baseline studies
- Vegetation establishment and its functions
- Monitoring for effective closure
- Understanding acid and metalliferous drainage for the life of mine
- Designing covers as a mean for closure
- Assessing the success of rehabilitation
- Post-closure water and sediment assessments
- Relinquishment/ regulatory requirements
- Post-mining land use, alternatives and examples.
Prior to the course, a one day site visit was hosted by Cerro Corona, Goldfields Mine and El Dorado Legacy Gold Mine area near Hualgayoc. The purpose of this site visit was to see a remediated site and consider new research which will support complete remediation of the site as well as to explore closure options for the mining company to guide them towards minimal liabilities upon closure.