Abstract:

The Gibraltar Mine, a copper-molybdenum operation in British Columbia, Canada, faced a challenge with the sum of nitrate and nitrite (nitrate+nitrite-N) in its Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) exceeding the permitted discharge criterion of 10 mg/L (as N). To address this, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. collaborated with Ensero Solutions to explore treatment options, identifying in-situ microbial denitrification as the most viable solution.

In June 2023, the mine successfully implemented this treatment approach by adding 603 m³ of denatured ethanol to the TSF, stimulating the denitrification process without generating any adverse chemistry or waste streams. This treatment was successful in rapidly reducing nitrate+nitrite-N levels to below discharge criteria, facilitating the resumption of permitted TSF discharge and demonstrating a sustainable, cost-effective strategy for managing mine water quality. This initiative marks a pioneering application of such a treatment in operational mines within Canada, underscoring the potential for wider adoption in industry.

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Allan Steckelberg