Abstract:

An innovative and collaborative approach to water management will be described to enable the reopening of a flooded deep shaft gold mine in northern Quebec. The Cedar Bay Mine Site is part of the Lac Dore Complex, located in Quebec, 5 km southeast of Chibougamau. Mine operations have been closed since 1990 and presently, Doré Copper Mining Corp (DCMC) is conducting a drilling campaign at the Site to expand and identify resources. The company plans to dewater the underground workings to continue with underground drilling and to bring the Site back into operation. BluMetric Environmental Inc. (BluMetric) in collaboration with EnviroCree Ltd. (EnviroCree) is providing environmental expertise and technical support to DCMC to conduct a deep water video inspection and water sampling program of a flooded 750 meter deep mine shaft. This work determines the physical conditions and water chemistry of the shaft and subsequently supports development of a conceptual water treatment process for the basis of obtaining a dewatering permit. BluMetric and EnviroCree worked with local service providers to develop an innovative approach to sample and inspect the mine shaft up to its targeted depth. This includes the use of a high-pressure submersible camera (sustaining pressures up to 1100 psi) as well as obtaining water samples from 750 meters depth to surface at 100 meter intervals.

The current presentation focuses on developing and completing the inspection and sampling campaign: (1) in collaboration/engagement with EnviroCree (a local First Nation Contractor) and other local subcontractors; and (2) with appropriate and innovative data collection methods required due to various unique site constraints (i.e. shaft depth, high shaft water pressure, and equipment placement restrictions on site). The presentation will also elaborate on designing the conceptual water treatment process in relation to the analytical water sample results.

Biography of the presenter: Vincent Mlakar is a Senior Hydrogeologist with BluMetric Environmental Inc., and has over 30 years of experience working on projects in the Mining Sector. Mr. Mlakar specializes in groundwater management studies, field exploration programs, and structural and geotechnical characterizations at mine, industrial, municipal and commercial sites. He has served as Project Field Team Leader and Senior Hydrogeologist for dewatering projects, groundwater research programs, water well designs, site characterizations and sustainability programs. In the role of Exploration Geologist, he has managed exploration campaigns in North and South America in both field and mine settings. Mr. Mlakar’s field and logistics experience with geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, methodology in instrumentation, including packer testing, well design and pumping test programs has led him to manage and execute turnkey and innovative/site specific field programs, acquiring and analyzing data critical in the development of dewatering, containment and groundwater resource systems. His experience on various projects includes scope of work development, detailed design, tender preparation, and field management and implementation. Regarding dewatering and water management specifically, Mr. Mlakar has provided guidance, planning, design, supervision, construction, and operation services for dewatering systems in excavated areas. He has also provided guidance for specifying requirements for dewatering control measures. He has implemented field programs to conduct tests and analyzed rock quality characteristics to establish parameters critical in the design of dewatering systems for mine sites.

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Mark Somers