Progress toward pollution prevention and waste minimization in the North American gold mining industry

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of pollution prevention and waste minimization in the North American gold mining industry. Specifically outlined are: 1) the environmental options available to North American goldmines for use in cyanidation setups and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) control, generally recognized as the two most environmentally problematic areas in the industry; 2) the progress made towards pollution prevention and waste minimization in each of these industrial areas; and 3) operational areas in need of further environmental improvement. Analysis of selected data and questionnaire feedback indicates that most of the gold mines operated by the larger Senior Mining companies have implemented the state-of-the-art measures that best prevent environmental problems in cyanidation practices and AMD setups, but that the remaining operations, which are owned by small- and medium-sized Junior Mining companies, lag far behind, and are only doing what is necessary to comply with environmental regulations. Senior Mining Companies clearly have the research, technologic, and financial resources to design and implement effective environmental management practices at properties. Communications with the managers from Junior Mining Operations, however, reveal that a number of barriers, which are economic and legislative in nature, are preventing implementation of the leading edge environmental technologies needed to minimize problems with pollution and wastes. It is concluded that perpetuating a uniform pattern of pollution prevention and waste minimization in the industry will require the complete removal of these barriers, the North American gold mining industry to form research partnerships with governments and academic institutions, and a number of largely unexplored environmental aspects of the industry to be heavily researched and improved, in particular, biological oxidation.