7. Evolution of Sustainability and Ecological Methods to Support Mine Waste and Water Management

Margarete Kalin

Minimum 8, maximum 20 delegates
Regular € 290/310 Students € 200/220

In 1556 Agricola described the environmental shortfalls which go along with mining and metallurgical projects. Today the industry is faced with the same issues and the search for a sustainable solution within an acceptable economic framework has recently intensified. This full day course will address the historic background of sustainability and the influence of mining methods and engineering measures which bear on mine waste and water management success or failure.
Basic pillars of ecological recovery of mine waste and water are outlined in order to bridge the gap between the disciplines of engineering, ecology, limnology and geo-microbiology.

The course participants will take back to their workplace an understanding of the tools needed to support ecosystem recovery. They will be able to recognize the shortfalls and hindrances in mine waste management and engineering measures which lead to failure. The foundation of success is the ability to recognize the causes of failure. R&D projects will be presented which support the needed paradigm shift from chemical treatment and sludge generation to in-situ treatment and ecosystem recovery.