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Geochemical Characterization of Spilled Tailings from the Mount Polley Mine Dam Failure

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Geochemical Characterization of Spilled Tailings from the Mount Polley Mine Dam Failure Geochemical Characterization of Spilled Tailings from the Mount Polley Mine Dam Failure Chris Kennedy, SRK Stephen Day, SRK ‘Lyn Anglin, Imperial Metals December 2, 2015 Acknowledgements • This was a team effort… • Colleen Hughes and the team at Mount Polley Mining Corporation • SNC-Lavalin – Hazeltine Creek field sampling • Dan Schneider • Trevor McConkey • Minnow Environmental – lake sediment sampling • Pierre Stecko • Golder Associates – overall coordination • Lee Nikl 2 Presentation Overview 1. Purpose of the study 2. Site geology and operational history 3. Sampling and analysis plan 4. Results 5. Discussion 6. On-going studies 3 1. Study Purpose & Approach • As most are aware, the Mount Polley Mine (MPM) tailings dam failed on August 4, 2014 and tailings were released 4 1. Study Purpose & Approach MPM Location: 55 km north-east of Williams Lake, BC MPM 5 1. Study Purpose & Approach 6 Source: Golder (2015) 1. Study Purpose & Approach • Tailings were spilled along the banks and stream bed of Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake, and Quesnel Lake. • As part of remedial efforts by Imperial Metals Corporation, the metal leaching and acid rock drainage (ML/ARD) potential of the spilled tailings were assessed. 7 1. Study Purpose & Approach • This presentation is a ‘highlights reel’ of publically available report: • http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/ mount-polley/ 8 1. Study Purpose & Approach The study approach included the following components: • Review existing data – site geology, operational history, etc. • Develop geochemical conceptual model to guide sampling • Develop and carry-out sampling and analysis plan 9 2. Site Geology and Operational History • The MP deposit is classified as an alkalic copper gold porphyry (BC MINFILE No. 093A 008) • The Mount Polley deposit is hosted within the Polley Stock that intrudes the Nicola Group volcanic rocks. It is variably altered and brecciated. • The host rocks vary in composition from diorite to syenite (including monzodiorite, monzonite) 10 2. Site Geology and Operational History • Rocks are composed primarily of plagioclase and alkali feldspar, with pyroxene, biotite and magnetite, and lesser garnet, epidote, calcite and chlorite. These rocks contain very little quartz. • The main sulphide minerals are chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pyrite (FeS2) • The main carbonate is calcite (CaCO3), malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2) is also present • A significant portion of the copper in the ore (i.e. upwards of 50%) is associated with a non-sulphide form near the surface. 11 2. Site Geology and Operational History • Mine started operations in 1997, with a 5-year shut down in 2001 to 2005 due to low metal prices • The main product is a copper sulphide concentrate • As a result, tailings are relatively depleted in sulphide minerals compared to ore • Tailings deposition in the TSF included rotation of the discharge location along the embankments 12 3. Sampling and Analysis Plan Conceptual Geochemical Model: • Low ARD potential expected for tailings due to relatively low sulphide content of ore and recovery of copper sulphide • ML potential indicated by presence of sulphide and other copper bearing minerals. 13 3. Sampling and Analysis Plan • Conceptual model developed indicated that sampling needed to consider sub-aerial and sub- aqueous tailings • Oxidation of sulphides in sub-aerial tailings • Potential for subaqueous dissolution of secondary minerals due to low oxygen conditions (i.e. reductive dissolution) 14 3. Sampling and Analysis Plan Sampling Methods • Subaerial tailings – 18 transects along Hazeltine Creek with 68 samples in total • Lake tailings – 78 sample from Polley and Quesnel Analytical methods • ML/ARD potential – mineralogy, acid-base accounting, metal analysis • Trace element occurrence – sequential extractions • Reactivity – kinetic tests (on-going) 15 3. Sampling and Analysis Plan 16 4. Results – Field Sampling Grey tailings Magnetite sands 17 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis 45 Magnetite Sand Mix non-PAG 40 Grey Tailings 1:1 35 1:2 30 /t) 3 25 (kg CaCO TIC 20 NP 15 Uncertain 10 5 PAG 0 012345678910 AP (kg CaCO3/t) Z:\01_SITES\Mt_Polley\1CI008.003_Privileged_and_Confidential\500_Reporting\1.Interpretations\Geochemistry\Hzltn_Crk_2014\[MtPolley_HzltnCrk_2014_1CI008.003_REV01_C BK sjn.xlsx] 18 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis 100 Maximum Enriched P95 P75 Median 10 Mean P25 P5 1 Minimum 0.1 Depleted Enrichment Ratio Enrichment [concentration sample/concentrationbasalt] 0.01 Al As B Cd Cr Co Cu Fe Pb Mn Hg Mo Ni Se Ag S U V Zn Element Z:\01_SITES\Mt_Polley\1CI008.003_Privileged_and_Confidential\500_Reporting\Interpretations\Geochemistry\Hzltn_Crk_2014\[MtPolley_HzltnCrk_2014_1CI008.003_REV K.xlsx] 19 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis • Copper and selenium concentrations were compared to operational tailings and background sediments • Copper • Spilled tailings slightly lower than operational samples, but higher than regional sediments • Selenium • Spilled tailings were slightly higher than operational samples likely due to influence of relatively high background concentrations 20 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis 10000 10 n=112 Maximum n=137 n=68 P95 n=137 1000 n=86 P75 n=68 Median 100 1 Mean Selenium (mg/kg) Selenium Copper (mg/kg) Copper 10 P25 P5 Minimum 1 0.1 Creek Mill/TMF Regional Creek Mill/TMF Regional (NTS 93A) (NTS 93A) Y:\01_SITES\Mt_Polley\1CI008.003_Privileged_and_Confidential\500_Reporting\Interpretations\G Y:\01_SITES\Mt_Polley\1CI008.003_Privileged_and_Confidential\500_Reporting\Interpretations\Ge 2014\[MtPolley_HzltnCrk_2014_1CI008.003_REV01_CBK_sjn.xlsx] 2014\[MtPolley_HzltnCrk_2014_1CI008.003_REV01_CBK_sjn.xlsx] • Sampling captured range reported in mill tailings • Based on comparisons, good evidence that tailings collected were a mixture of tailings and native sediments 21 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis Mineralogy – main findings: • Sulphides: pyrite and chalcopyrite • Carbonates: calcite • Iron oxides: magnetite • Copper ‘deportment’: non-sulphide copper – likely chlorite (see next slide) • Quartz: high in some samples (greater than 5%) and representative of mixing with native sediments 22 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis • Copper deportment as expected in sulphides, but chlorite also shown to be significant host • Selenium concentrations too low for deportment analysis 100 90 Fe Ox_Silicate_low Cu 80 70 Chlorite 60 50 Chalcocite/Covellite 40 30 Bornite 20 Normalized Copper Deportment (%) 10 Chalcopyrite 0 Grey Tailings Magnetite Sand 23 4. Results – Laboratory Analysis Sequential extractions to identify mineral ‘host’: • Main findings were that copper and selenium were in mineral phases not susceptible to remobilization under sub-oxic conditions • Iron oxides present in the tailings were not easily reducible, which is attributed to the stability of magnetite (Fe3O4) 24 5. Discussion Main findings from study: • ARD is not expected and leaching will be under pH basic conditions – this will result in low metal solubility • Copper and selenium were the main elements identified as leaching concerns compared to crustal averages • Sub-aerial oxidation of sulphides will release copper and selenium, BUT…. • Copper solubility will be limited at basic pH • Not all copper is associated with sulphides 25 5. Discussion Main findings from study (continued): • Selenium is soluble at basic pH, but site specific considerations are important • Dilution – most of the tailings are present in thin layers • Background sediment concentrations are similar and often higher than tailings • Water submergence of tailings will inhibit sulphide oxidation and non-sulphide minerals are not expected to dissolve under sub-oxic conditions • The tailings are likely mixtures of true tailings and natural sediments (e.g. lower copper and higher selenium) 26 6. On-going Studies • Non-sulphide copper analysis • How much copper and other elements are associated with ‘non-reactive’ phase? • Kinetic testing • Establishing leaching rates 27 Thanks for listening… • Any questions? 28.
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