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<RGC:Project Experience
Ronneburg Mining District
Germany
Schlema Waste Dump
- Client:
- Wismut Gmb H
- Years of Service:
- 1991 to present
- Project Description:
- The Wismut mining company was responsible for the development and
operation of the East-German uranium mines under Russian control from the
1940s to reunification in 1989. During this period these mines employed up to
100,000 people and were responsible for the production of about one third of the
Soviet blocks uranium production. The extent of the area affected by the former mining and
ore processing activities is approximately 35 km2, of which 1,100 hectares (2,650 acres) are
covered by waste rock piles, 700 hectares (1,700 acres) by tailings ponds and 3,480 hectares
(8,352 acres) by the facilities. The majority of
the mine working's and waste rock piles are acid generating and all wastes and
disturbed areas are of environmental concern because of metals leaching and
radiation risks. Immediately following unification of Germany, the mining
operations were discontinued and a fund of approximately 13 billion
DM (10 billion US dollars) provided for the clean-up
and remediation of the uranium mining areas at an expenditure value of about 1
billion DM per year. This makes it the single biggest mining rehabilitation
project in the world.
- Services Provided:
- Dr. Robertson has acted as an advisor and study leader for numerous
investigation, evaluation and designs for various aspects of mines remediation,
initially as the Project Principal and Senior technical leader for SRK teams and
studies and since 1995 on behalf of Robertson GeoConsultants Inc. Earlier
studies complied a review of the entire Ronneburg mining complex data and the
development of a comprehensive water balance and geochemical balance for
the entire area to allow alternative long term remediation and contaminant
release strategies to be developed and their effectiveness assessed.
This study resulted in the development of a number of new "control" concepts
including the C zone concept and the potential of developing a hydraulic
cage.
This was followed by a detailed program for the geochemical characterization of
the acid generating waste dumps which included the development of drilling and
test pitting programs (performed by Wismut personnel), logging and field
characterization method
s development, laboratory testing program definition, including new protocols for
both static and kinetic testing of several hundred large scale columns. The
results of these investigations were used to define the waste rock types and
geochemical and engineering properties and to develop a system for prioritizing
those that should be placed in the various secure zones within the Ronneberg
open pit, hence the schedule and method of waste re-location.
Most recently Robertson GeoConsultants was appointed by Wismut to develop
the methods and technology for the placement of cover layers on the very soft
(weak) tailings in the pond zone of the Helmsdorf tailings impoundment. These
extremely weak (essentially fluid) tailings require special techniques to increase
their consolidation sufficiently to enable conventional cover placement
techniques to be used. This study involved the use of finite strain consolidation
theory to develop a model which predicts
the rates of consolidation and pore pressure dissipation within the slimes zone under self weight as well as the incumbent loads of cover layers and placing
equipment. The effects of short and long band drains were modelled for both
short and long term effects. Available computer codes were not able to perform
the modelling, and additional model development had to be done for the project.
The study resulted in the development of alternative cover placement
methodologies and the demonstration of the analytical methods for their
design.
RGC also participated in the performance (with Wismut and other Wismut
consultants) in the development of risk analyses for alternative tailings
remediation methods to enable the alternative which provided the best long term
cost benefits to be identified
and to provide a rational for alternative selection.
Papers:
Jakubick, A.T., Gatzweiler, R., Mager, D., and Robertson, A. MacG. (1997)
The Wismut Waste Rock Pile Remediation Program of the Ronnenburg Mining District, Germany.
In: Fourth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, May 31 to June 6, 1997.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, p. 1285 - 1301.
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