PW06 Life-Cycle Assessment
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday
(PW083) Application of LCA to mine tailings management, with an adaptation to Canadian context of land use.
Reid, C1, Aubertin, M2, Bussiere, B3, Deschenes, L1, 1 CIRAIG - Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec, Canada2 Industrial NSERC Polytechnique-UQAT Chair, Montreal, Quebec, Canada3 Industrial NSERC Polytechnique-UQAT Chair, Val d'Or, Quebec, Canada
ABSTRACT- The effective management of mine tailings involves the control of several environmental impacts. For example, large areas are required for the storage of such liquid and solid wastes. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a tool that allows a selection between different management options with respects to these impacts. However, the land use impact category included in LCA need to be adjusted for the Canadian context. The objectives of this study include a comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of different tailings management techniques and a critical analysis of the land use characterisation models in order to select and adapt the most appropriate models for the Canadian context and mining industry. Six tailings management scenarios are studied. During mine operation, 2 options are considered: tailings can be sent to the tailings disposal area where they are submerged or they can be partly used for backfilling. At mine closure, 3 options are presented: a) keep tailings submerged, b) partial desulphurization, using a cover of desulphurized material and c) a cover with natural material. Land use impacts are evaluated with representative parameters such as loss of quality (indicators), affected area and time. Selected models should take into account the transformation and occupation impacts and the renaturalisation aspect. The model indicators will also need to enable a spatial adaptation. Inventory analysis is presently in progress for a mine located in Abitibi (Quebec, Canada), with elements pertaining to the backfill plant, tailings disposal area, water treatment (liming) plant, polishing pond and the construction of infrastructures.
Key words: life cycle assessment, land use, mine tailings management