Monitoring Cover Systems in Permafrost Regions

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Background

The Tundra Mine is a former underground gold mine located 240 km Northeast of Yellowknife where permafrost is expected to return to disturbed areas hampering the functionality of some instrumentation types. Its conventionally placed tailings containment area and mine rock stockpiles required remediation.

Approach

Okane focused on the specific site challenges to identify the optimum analyses and activities prior to construction. Okane evaluated three cover system options to minimize acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) from the mine rock and tailings, as well as for the long-term monitoring of the landform structures.

After

Applying a risk-based approach resulted in the selection of a combination granular soil/geosynthetic liner cover system. A detailed monitoring program including a variety of instrumentation (thermistors, vibrating wire piezometers, monitoring wells) was designed and installed to monitor the long-term performance of the cover system and to monitor the progression of the expected return of permafrost.

Tundra Mine [Digital Image]. (2014). Government of Canada.

Monitoring long term conditions in permafrost region
after the implementation of site remediation to assure environmental objectives are met.