Mining and Aggregate Resources

Mining and aggregate resources industries typically generate major changes to the natural terrain and environment and are often perceived to impact surface and groundwater resources. Within this industry water resource impacts can result from water supply development, dewatering requirements, or waste rock impounds. Environmental stewardship in this industry requires a management strategy to ensure drawdown from water supply development and dewatering activities does not adversely impact neighbouring water users and natural aquatic and terrestrial systems. Additionally, waste rock management generally involves both hydraulic and chemical controls.

AquaResource Inc. utilizes data management, GIS, and modeling techniques to characterize water resource systems, evaluate potential impacts, and analyze mitigative measures for mining and aggregate industries. Some of the key services provided include:

Data Coordination and Mapping

Bringing together multiple data sources in a GIS to integrate geologic, hydrogeologic and hydraulic interpretations with other site data.

Dewatering Impact Assessment

Simulating pre- and post-dewatering conditions to quantify potential impacts to neighbours and surface water features.

Dynamic Impact Minimization

Designing extraction progression to minimize water management impacts at key periods during the year.

Water Supply Impact Assessment

Simulating pre-and post-development conditions to design pumping systems that minimize potential impacts.

Density Dependent Flow and Transport

Simulation of migration pathways followed by dense mine wastes to assess risks and design appropriate mitigation measures.

Tailings Pond Impact Assessment

Hydraulic and Hydrogeologic evaluation of seepage through tailings pond impoundments and assessment of potential impacts.

Geochemical Reactive Transport

Simulation of geochemical evolution due to water rock interactions downgradient of waste rock impounds.

Monitoring System Evaluation

Hydraulic evaluation of monitoring systems to indicate potential areas of data gaps, and target additional field reconnaissance efforts.