Saturated Rock Fill – Technology Readiness Assessment and Regulatory Strategy

project overview

Integrated Sustainability supported a tracer-based field investigation to evaluate saturated rock fill suitability for semi-passive mine water treatment. A temporary closed-loop system was installed to transfer contact water between sediment pond infrastructure and injection wells. Monitoring and tracer data were used to characterize groundwater flow paths, estimate hydraulic retention, and assess selenium and nitrate attenuation under controlled conditions, supporting further development of site treatment options.

project deliverables

• Designed and implemented a closed-loop injection and recovery system to circulate 3,000 m^³/d of contact water through saturated waste rock.
• Developed a field program plan incorporating injection well connections, tracer dosing systems, and extraction-to-recovery routing infrastructure.
• Conducted a dual-phase potassium bromide tracer study to evaluate groundwater flow paths, breakthrough timing, and attenuation behaviour within the saturated rock fill system.
• Performed a geophysical assessment to delineate the base elevation, boundaries, and flow geometry of the saturated rock fill zone.
• Installed instrumentation and collected continuous monitoring data for groundwater levels, temperature, pressure, and tracer concentrations across 18 observation locations.
• Prepared a hydrogeological evaluation report summarizing retention times, vertical losses to bedrock, and downgradient discharge connectivity.