About

Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts awarded a contract to SRK Consulting(Australia) Pty Ltd for a comprehensive scientific and engineering study of the Old Tailings Dam at the Savage River Mine.

The study addressed oxidation of pyrite in the tailings that had resulted in streams of acid rock drainage seeping from the dam wall, and provided information to allow the Savage River Rehabilitation Project (SRRP) — a joint venture between the Department and Australian Bulk Minerals — to develop a strategy for long-term management and to measure the success or otherwise of acid drainage remediation programs.

The scope included investigation of surface and groundwater hydrology and chemistry; assessment of oxidation development, progression and geochemistry; analysis of acid drainage generation and solute transport; evaluation of dam stability and long-term management and closure; and a drilling, sampling and testing program.