AU2020364511B2

AU2020364511B2 - Method for covering open mine area in the mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation and system thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2020364511B2
Application number: AU2020364511A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kim Wone TAI
Original assignee: Kl Building Resources Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: Kl Building Resources Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2019-10-08
Filing date: 2020-10-06
Publication date: 2023-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-06
Also published as: AU2020364511A1; CN114466966A; WO2021071353A1; MY198797A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for covering open mine area in the mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation and a system thereof. Accordingly, the method (100) includes: a) providing a plurality of modular panels (110); b) providing a fluid channelling network (120); wherein the plurality of modular panels (110) is adapted to configure as a roof for covering waste mineral rocks (210) of the open mine area (200); such that to minimize the contact and to reduce the influence of chemical reaction in between the waste mineral rocks (210) and climatic fluids; and wherein the fluid channelling network (120) is adapted to work in association with the plurality of modular panels (110) using gutter system (122) for climatic fluids collection and diversion; such that to further mitigate or reduce the formation of abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

Description

METHOD FOR COVERING OPEN MINE AREA IN THE MITIGATION OF ABANDONED MINE DRAINAGE FORMATION AND SYSTEM THEREOF FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for covering open mine area in the mitigation

of abandoned mine drainage formation and a system thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Abandoned mines can be potentially hazardous to public health, safety and impact to a

surrounding environment due to the ground settlement and the formation of abandoned

mine discharge which is hazardous when it pollutes the surrounding ground water,

streams and soil. Minerals mining usually involves stripping and removing large

quantities of overburden in an effort to extract the mineral-rich rocks. After this process

is completed, the remaining rocks are usually left exposed to natural phenomena such

as wind, rain or snow. Waste minerals or rocks typically constitute commonly of sulphide

compounds, such as pyrite and other carbonate compounds such as limestone and

dolomite or other also mineral rocks containing heavy metals. The waste minerals or

rocks that left in the abandoned mine tend to react chemically with oxygen from the air

and water from rain or snow to form an abandoned mine drainage (AMD). The AMD

may be acidic or alkaline, and generally contains dissolved heavy metals in various

concentrations. The AMD issues are commonly associated with abandoned mines such

as copper mines, coal mines and other minerals mined in open cast mines, surface

mines and deep mines. The AMD has been known to cause significant environmental

impacts due to the pollution problems to the water system which then severely affect the

aquatic lives and the vegetations in the surrounding land.

Typically, mining areas would be left neglected or abandoned once the minerals have

been depleted. The exposed waste minerals or rocks that contain mineral sulphide

initially react with oxygen and water and form acidic discharge which subsequently

dissolves the heavy metals present in the waste rocks resulting in extremely high total

dissolved solids (TDS) present in the AMD. This has been found to cause contamination

to the nearby streams or other bodies of water. The low PH and high dissolved metals

may also cause severe impacts that is jeopardous to the aquatic organism, as well as

the human populations that are living close to the polluted streams or other

contaminated bodies of water.

Despite various types of mining operation being in existence for many years, the strict

requirements of relevant local authorities in the environment protection for abandoned

mines were only put into practice some twenty years ago. This delayed of action has

caused severe environmental problems as massive volumes of AMD have been formed

every year. Such AMD formation has significantly led to the pollution of precious water

resources. Moreover, some countries with a large number of abandoned mines with low

rainfalls or snowfalls would probably mandate a huge annual budget allocation to

preserve the clean and scarce water resources.

Various attempts have been made to resolve the problem of the abandoned mine

drainage's (AMD) pollution to the clean water resources. However, most attempts have

not been completely satisfactory for one or more reasons. For instance, some methods

involved the treatment of AMD to neutralise the water and precipitate the dissolved

metals to produce an acceptably low level of dissolved metals in the treated water; while

others involved the reduction of AMD formation by circumventing the waste minerals or

rocks to come into contact with oxygen thus preventing any chemical reaction. However, such methods are found to be unsatisfactory because of their drawbacks, as such, they are not widely used. The main drawbacks are high initial installation costs and high recurring operating costs.

Another method which involves covering up or burying the exposed waste minerals or

rocks at the abandoned stripped or open-cast mines required an extremely high cost. As

such, no such method has been encountered which involves covering-up or burying the

exposed waste minerals or rocks to prevent the formation of the AMD.

In view of the foregoing and other disadvantages as mentioned above, it is desirous to

provide a method for the mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation and a

system thereof so that to overcome the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks.

Accordingly, the aspects of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are

designed to address one or more of the foregoing drawbacks and issues relative to the

prior art in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The present invention and its

combination of features thereof will be described and exemplified in the detailed

description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Two main objectives of the inventions are:

1. Devising a method to mitigate the formation of AMD hence reducing the pollution

hazards and cost of treatment of the AMD, and

2. Devising a method which can be revenue generating at the same time hence

greatly improving the viability of the treatment of the AMD.

of abandoned mine drainage formation. Accordingly, the method includes: a) providing a

plurality of modular panels; b) providing a fluid channelling network; wherein the plurality

of modular panels is adapted to configure as a roof for covering waste minerals of the

open mine area; such that to minimize the contact and to reduce the influence of

chemical reaction in between the waste minerals and climatic fluids; and wherein the

fluid channelling network is adapted to work in association with the plurality of modular

panels using gutter system for climatic fluids collection and diversion; such that to

further mitigate or reduce the formation of abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

Accordingly, the open mine area includes abandoned mine, stripped, open-cast or

open-pit mine, slope mine or mine tailing area. In the preferred exemplary, the plurality

of modular panels may include weather-proof panels made up of metal, or non-metal

including wooden, polymer, plastic, elastomer, glass, or composite materials. By way of

example but not limitation, the plurality of modular panels may include solar panels for

solar energy collection. It should be noted that the plurality of modular panels is

configured as the roof for harvesting climatic fluids. Accordingly, the climatic fluids

include air, water, rain or snow-melt runoff water of natural phenomena. It should be

noted that the roof is adapted to fixedly or adjustably tilt at a predetermined angle,0.

In the preferred exemplary, the waste minerals include exposed minerals or rocks

constitute of sulphide compounds, pyrite, calcite, limestone, dolomite or other mineral

rocks containing heavy metals. It should be noted that the waste minerals tend to

chemically react with water and oxygen from the air (in the presence of bacteria as

catalyst) to form the AMD. Accordingly, the formation of the abandoned mine drainage

(AMD) includes acidic mine drainage, alkaline mine drainage, metalliferous or heavy

metal mine drainage.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the gutter system includes gutters

that are able to collaboratively operate or working in association with pipelines or

conduits to allow the climatic fluids to be collected and diverted to storage tanks, ponds

or streams through a drain system. By way of example but not limitation, the drain

system may include a network of maintenance walkways that constitute weather

resistance pavements with drains or channels for the runoff water collection and

diversion.

The present invention also provides a system for covering open mine area in the

mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation. Accordingly, the system includes: a) a

plurality of modular panels; b) a fluid channelling network; wherein the plurality of

modular panels is adapted to configure as a roof for covering waste minerals of the

chemical reaction between the waste minerals and climatic fluids; and wherein the fluid

channelling network is adapted to work in association with the plurality of modular

further mitigate or reduce the formation of abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts

hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings,

it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing

from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present

invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein

below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and

thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a method for covering open mine area in the

mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation and a system thereof in accordance

with the preferred exemplary of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of FIG. 1 being constructed on an exposed mine area

of strip slope according to the preferred exemplary of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

of abandoned mine drainage formation and a system thereof. Hereinafter, this

specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred exemplary of

the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the

preferred exemplary of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present

invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various

modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is

intended as a description of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention

and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention

may be practised. Moreover, the detailed description includes specific details for the

purpose of providing a methodical understanding of the present invention. However, it

will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practised

without these specific details. Acronyms and other descriptive terminology may be used

merely for convenience and clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the

invention. For the purpose of present invention, climatic fluids may include air, water,

rain or snow-melt runoff water of natural phenomena. As such the expressions, "climatic

fluids", "air", "water", "rain or snow-melt runoff water", or "runoff water" may refer to the

same interpretation and may be used interchangeably when deemed appropriate.

Besides, the expressions "modular panels" or "roof" may also be used interchangeably

when deemed appropriate.

The present invention aims to provide an efficient and cost-effective method and system

for covering open mine area in the mitigation of abandoned mine drainage formation.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a sustainable development, which is simple

and relatively cost-effective for covering open mine area in the mitigation of abandoned

mine drainage (AMD) formation. Method for covering open mine area in the mitigation of

abandoned mine drainage formation and system thereof according to the preferred

exemplary of the present invention will now be described in details in accordance with

the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 2, either individually or in any combination

thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method (100) and system (100') thereof for covering open

mine area (200) generally constitute of a plurality of modular panels (110) collaboratively

operate or working in association with a fluid channelling network (120) in supporting the

mitigation of abandoned mine drainage (AMD) formation. Accordingly, the plurality of

modular panels (110) is adapted to be configured as a roof for covering waste minerals

(210) of the open mine area (200); so that to minimize the contact and to reduce the

influence of natural chemical reaction in between the waste minerals (210) and climatic

fluids. Moreover, the roof made up by the plurality of modular panels (110) is adapted

for use in harvesting the climatic fluids. Accordingly, the climatic fluids may include air,

water, rain or snow-melt runoff water of natural phenomena. In the preferred exemplary,

the fluid channelling network (120) is adapted to work in association with the plurality of

modular panels (110) using gutter system (122) for climatic fluids collection and

diversion; so that to facilitate further mitigate or reduce the formation of abandoned mine

drainage (AMD).

It will be appreciated that the open mine area (200) as described herein may include an

abandoned mine, stripped, open-cast or open-pit mine, slope mine or mine tailing area.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the waste minerals (210) may

include, but not limited to, exposed minerals or rocks constitute of sulphide compounds, pyrite, calcite, limestone, dolomite or other minerals containing heavy metals.

Accordingly, the waste minerals (210) may tend to chemically react with water, oxygen;

or to catalyse in the presence of bacteria to form the abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

As such, in order to mitigate AMD formation, it is notably important to reduce the amount

of oxygen and/or rain or snow-melt runoff water come into contact with the waste

minerals (210). Moreover, the abandoned mine drainage (AMD) as described herein

may include, but not limited to, acidic mine drainage, alkaline mine drainage,

metalliferous or heavy metal mine drainage.

By way of example and not by way of limitation, the roof made up by the plurality of

modular panels (110) may include weather-proof panels made up of metal, or non-metal

including wooden, polymer, plastic, elastomer, glass, or composite materials. It will be

appreciated that the plurality of modular panels (110) may include or equip with solar

panels for solar energy collection. Optionally, but not limited to, the solar panels may

include modular form of Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono-SI), Polycrystalline Solar

Panels (Poly-SI), Thin-Film Solar Cells (TFSC), Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell (A-Si),

Biohybrid Solar Cell, Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell (CdTe), Concentrated PV Cell (CVP)

or Highly Concentrated PV Cell (HCVP), or more preferably solar photovoltaic (PV)

panels. It should be noted that the modular panels as mentioned although an exemplary,

will be used herein in describing the possible constituents that may be used by the

present invention. However other forms of panels capable of providing similar

functionality at desired optimal operating characteristics may also be contemplated. As

such, the modular panels as described herein should not be construed as limiting in any

way.

It will be appreciated that the implementation of solar panels as the roof for covering

open mine area (200), as well as for harvesting climatic fluids in the mitigation of AMD formation may be feasible and economically beneficial. Accordingly, this variation in the redevelopment of abandoned mine areas may promote renewable energy for electrical generation and subsequently stimulate the growth in local economies.

Preferably, but not limited to, the roof made up by the plurality of modular panels (110)

is adapted to be fixedly or adjustably tilted at a predetermined angle, 0, so that to obtain

desired optimal operating characteristics. Preferably, but not limited to, the roof may be

tilted in concurring to the slope as well as the positioning of open mining land on the

earth such that to achieve the optimum facing and performance conditions. For instance,

but not limited to, south-facing orientation is preferred for counties in the northern

hemisphere, while north-facing orientation is suitable for countries in the southern

hemisphere.

It should be noted that the climatic fluids such as water, rain or snow-melt runoff water

on the plurality of modular panels (110) may be harvested through a gutter system (122)

provided thereof. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the gutter system (122)

may include gutters (123) that are able to collaboratively operate or working in

association with pipelines or conduits (124) to allow the climatic fluids to be collected

and diverted to storage tanks, ponds or streams through a drain system (126).

Preferably, but not limited to, the drain system (126) may include a network of

maintenance walkways (128) that constitute weather resistance pavements with drains

or channels (129) for the runoff water collection and diversion. The walkways,

pavements with drains or channels as mentioned although an exemplary, will be used

herein in describing the possible elements that may be used. However other modes

capable of providing similar functionality at desired optimal operating characteristics

may also be contemplated. As such, the walkways, pavements with drains or channels

as described herein should not be construed as limiting the invention.

It will be appreciated that high-speed flow may occur in the collection and diversion of

the rain or snow-melt runoff water through the fluid channelling network (120). Optionally,

but not limiting the invention, the high-speed flow may be used for electricity generation

through the implementing of appropriate small-scale turbines among the fluid

channelling network (120). By way of example but not limitation, the gutters (123) of the

gutter system (122), pipelines or conduits (124), channels of drains system (126), and

the like, are preferably made of metal or non-mental, lightweight fibre or durable

composite materials that is capable of providing desired optimal operating as well as

durability characteristics. It should be noted that the gutters, pipelines or conduits as

mentioned although an exemplary, will be used herein in describing the possible

constituents that may be used by the present invention. However other forms of

channelling means capable of providing similar functionality at desired optimal operating

characteristics may also be contemplated. As such, the gutters, pipelines or conduits as

described herein should not be construed as limiting in any way.

It will be appreciated that the collected rain or snow-melt runoff water may be used in

other industrial applications as deemed appropriate, or to be further processed into

useful products.

It should be noted that the configurations and arrangements of various elements used to

carry out the method and system thereof are illustrative and exemplary only and are not

restrictive of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that those

configurations, arrangements and variations used herein may be altered in a manner so

as to obtain different optimal effects or desired operating characteristics. As such, the

above-described should not be construed as limiting in any way, but as a best mode

contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in

many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle

and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in

the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.

Claims

1. A method for covering open mine area, the method (100) includes:

a) providing a plurality of modular panels (110);

b) providing a liquids channelling network (120);

wherein the plurality of modular panels (110) is adapted to configure as a roof for

covering waste minerals (210) of the open mine area (200) for the purpose of

harvesting climatic liquids to reduce the contact between the waste minerals

(210) and climatic liquids so as to minimise formation of abandoned mine

drainage (AMD); and

wherein the liquids channelling network (120) is adapted to work in association

with the plurality of modular panels (110) using gutter system (122) for climatic

liquids collection and diversion.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular panels (110)

include weather-proof panels made up of metal, or non-metal including wooden,

polymer, plastic, elastomer, glass, or composite materials.

3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular panels (110)

include solar panels for solar energy collection.

4. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the roof is adapted to fixedly or

adjustably tilt at a predetermined angle, 0.

5. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the gutter system (122) includes

gutters (123) in association with pipelines or conduits (124) to allow the climatic liquids to be collected and diverted to storage tanks, ponds or streams through a drain system (126).

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the drain system (126) includes a

network of maintenance walkways (128) that constitute weather resistance

pavements with drains or channels (129) for runoff water collection and diversion.

7. A system for covering open mine area, the system (100') includes:

a) a plurality of modular panels (110);

b) a liquids channelling network (120);

covering waste minerals (210) of the open mine area (200) for the purpose of

harvesting climatic liquids to reduce the contact between the waste minerals

(210) and climatic liquids so as to minimise formation of abandoned mine

drainage (AMD); and

wherein the liquids channelling network (120) is adapted to work in association

liquids collection and diversion.

8. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the plurality of modular panels (110)

include weather-proof panels made up of metal, or non-metal including wooden,

polymer, plastic, elastomer, or composite materials.

9. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the plurality of modular panels (110)

include solar panels for solar energy collection.

10. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the roof is adapted to fixedly or

adjustably tilt at a predetermined angle, 0.

11. The system according to Claim 7, wherein the gutter system (122) includes

gutters (123) in association with pipelines or conduits (124) to allow the climatic

liquids to be collected and diverted to storage tanks, ponds or streams through a

drain system (126).

12. The system according to Claim 11, wherein the drain system (126) includes a

network of maintenance walkways (128) that constitute weather resistance