APPLICATION OF GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOTIC LIGAND MODELS TO WATERSHED-SCALE RISK ASSESSMENT RELATED MINING OPERATIONS

Modern mining operations continue to have the potential for dramatic impacts on drainage basins despite increasingly strict regulatory climates in nearly all countries. To minimize watershed impacts and optimize exploration and development investment, advanced knowledge of high-risk situations can be valuable. Geo-Environmental models (GEMs) of ore deposits and associated mining and processing practices help identify potential contaminant sources and provide estimates of their magnitude. Watershed-scale climate and hydrology, in conjunction with models for contaminant-biota interactions, such as the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) can help anticipate the acceptability of anticipated contaminant loads to receiving surface water bodies. Together, these models can contribute to overall environmental and economic risk assessments of the proposed mining operation. High-risk mine-watershed combinations will ultimately require higher-value mineral resources to support the proportionally higher costs of environmental management. A flow chart is presented that combines environmental and economic considerations related developing a mining property, and allows for timely adjustments to exploration objectives and facilitates making developmental go/no-go decisions.