Best Practice AMD Monitoring, Technologies and Applications

Course Description

The objectives of this short course are to explore best practices and innovations in sampling, spot field measurements and real-time continuous monitoring for AMD sites.

Participants will learn the importance of sampling, spot field measurements with portable meters and real-time continuous monitoring at AMD sites in relation to:

Cover systems – providing essential data to understand the performance of the cover, verify predicted outcomes, ensure environmental compliance and inform future management and rehabilitation efforts.
Tailings dams – water quality parameters (such as pH, electrical conductivity, sulfate and heavy metal concentrations) and physico-chemical parameters (such as temperature, moisture content, oxygen levels and piezometric pressure (measured in groundwater bores or with vibrating wire piezometers) to understand groundwater levels and potential seepage issues).
Groundwater – water quality parameters and levels.
Surface water – runoff and first flush/peak flow (post-rainfall events).
Seepage points – water quality parameters, flow rates, metal loads and flow directions.

There are many challenges with monitoring AMD. This course focuses on recommended methods of measurement, and how they are applied to AMD sites. A key outcome of this component of the course is to discuss what to consider when choosing a particular method to measure a particular parameter.

A component of measurement is the technology type. Every technology has its pitfalls. Keeping the technology operating as intended requires correct deployment, operation, scheduled maintenance and ongoing oversight. This component of the course describes how various technologies work, what can go wrong and what maintenance and QA/QC can be undertaken to optimise their operation. This component will cover samplers, portable meters, sensors and integrated monitoring systems.

For each technology type discussed, we will discuss challenges that can arise with the sampling and sensor-based measurement approaches and best practices to employ to ensure the data collected are meaningful and accurate.

Finally, we focus on how to interpret the data and how these can provide critical insights for site management and compliance assessment.

This short course is facilitated by Richard Campbell and Dr Annette Nolan from HydroTerra and Dr Robynne Chrystal from the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

Facilitator bios

Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell is Managing Director at HydroTerra.

Richard has been a geologist, hydrogeologist and environmental scientist for more than 25 years. In recent times Richard has focused on monitoring technologies and how these can be applied to improving operational and compliance efficiencies. Richard has significant experience in environmental and regulatory compliance requirements having worked in the areas of EPA auditing, landfill, mining, coal seam gas, catchment management, contaminated sites, effluent irrigation, agriculture, aquatic environments and more. Richard has significant experience in monitoring system design and implementation.

Dr Annette Nolan

Dr Annette Nolan is Technical Director and Monitoring Services Manager at HydroTerra.

Annette has over 25 years of experience that intersects across environmental consulting, remediation contracting, analytical chemistry and research sectors. Annette is passionate about knowledge sharing and thought leadership on best practices within the environmental consulting and monitoring industry.
Annette has been involved in a wide range of contaminated land investigations, monitoring and remediation projects at complex industrial and mine sites across Australia, including an alumina refinery and red mud tailings dam facility, a former waste oil refinery facility, current and former fire stations and within the resource recovery sector, with a focus on metals, hydrocarbons, gasworks residues and emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

Dr Robynne Chrystal

Robynne is a water resources engineer with 15 years of experience in research and consulting.

She currently works as a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Environmental Responsibility at SMI, UQ where her focus is on mine water management and the impacts of mine affected water for all stages of the mine life cycle. She has worked with mining companies in Australia, Asia and Africa to address various aspects of mine water and environmental management and has extensive experience in hydrological, hydraulic and water quality assessments and management. Robynne has a thorough understanding of the biophysical interactions of water systems at various temporal and spatial scales.

Course outline

The following AMD applications will be discussed:

Cover systems
Tailings dams
Groundwater
Surface water
Seepage

For each of these applications, the following courses will provide relevant context:

1. Introduction (1 hour)

Monitoring and data
Compliance vs strategic monitoring
Source, pathways and receptors of mine affected water
Temporal and spatial resolution
Geochemical modelling - data requirements

2. Hypothetical Case study (30 mins)

Example from a deidentified real case study site

Current monitoring on site and its limitations – lessons learnt in hindsight
What needs/could be done to address gaps in data

3. Best practice AMD monitoring, technologies and applications (5 hours)

Key measurement parameters

Which parameters should be monitored and at what frequency.

Methods of measurement

Which measurement methods, guidelines and standards.

Technology types

Which technology types for which application, how to select them and what to be careful of:

Samplers (manual and automated)
Portable meters
Sensors
Integrated monitoring systems and telemetry
Geophysical techniques

Planning and Undertaking AMD Monitoring Programs

System design
Technology supply, how to choose
Equipment configuration and testing
- Installation
- Oversight
- Maintenance, trouble-shooting issues/how to avoid the pitfalls
- Monitoring system performance reporting