Development of Innovative Landform and Closure Designs for Potentially Contaminating Surface Waste Rock Dumps (2003-2007)

In Australia, the conventional rehabilitation of mine sites is predicated on the perceived expectation of sparse grazing post-mining. This typically involves flattening the mined landform, topsoiling the surface, and planting pasture grasses, and in some cases has become enshrined in legislation. In Australia's dry climate, grazing is often not a sustainable land use. The aims of the project are to prove that alternative landform design and surface treatment strategies for potentially contaminating surface waste rock dumps are more effective and sustainable than the conventional approach, and through reduced earthworks and the use of waste materials will achieve substantial cost savings.