Abstract
Three prototype covers were constructed on a saline-sodic shale overburden fill at the Syncrude oil sands mine in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada in 1999. The covers are comprised of a surface layer of peat/mineral mix over glacial mineral soil placed over a sloping saline-sodic shale surface. The covers are designed to provide moisture storage for vegetation over the arid summer season while minimizing the impact of salt release from shale. The evolution of the hydraulic performance of the covers was evaluated through repeated testing of in situ hydraulic conductivity (K) over time. These changes are related to changes in monitored interflow collection rates. The mean K of the cover material increased approximately two orders of magnitude during the first three years following placement and then remained relatively constant. The interflow collection volumes have increased each year with the magnitude of interflow offset from the measured K values by two to three years. It appears that the interflow volumes which are critical for flushing salt from the covers are dependent on both the K of the cover and yearly climatic variability.
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