Science, Technology and Engineering

Environmental Geoscience

Honours Projects

A hydrogeological and geochemical characterisation of an abandoned tailings dam at Savage River Mine in Tasmania

Tracey Hassell

Supervisor: Dr John Webb

The Old Tailings Dam at Savage River Mine contains exposed pyrite-rich tailings which are oxidising to produce acid mine drainage (AMD) at the surface of the tailings, and in several seeps located along the southern dam wall. The purpose of the project was to assess the hydrogeology and chemistry of the tailings and seep water to identify the souce of AMD in the seeps. The data collected was used to predict future impact from ongoing oxidation of the tailings, and identify strategies to reduce the amount and impact of AMD coming from the tailings dam in the future. The geochemical and hydrogeological data has also been used to support geophysical work carried out by PhD candiate, Darren Andrews, at the University of Tasmania.

The project was made possible by the co-operation of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment in Hobart, and Australian Bulk Minerals at Savage River Mine.