The Role of Economic Geologists in Water Management Related to Mining

Abstract

Editor’s note: The aim of the Geology and Mining series is to introduce early career professionals and students to various aspects of mineral exploration, development, and mining in order to share the experiences and insight of each author on the myriad of topics involved with the mineral industry and the ways in which geoscientists contribute to each. Abstract Water has always been an important issue for mineral exploration and mining companies. In recent years, water-related issues have increasingly placed a constraint on the development of new projects, while mine closure issues have created billion-dollar legacies for governments. Water access and management creates not only project risks but also opportunities. There are opportunities for geoscientists to help mitigate water-related issues early in a development, particularly for the economic geologists who play a crucial role in gathering data and geologic understanding during the early mine life cycle. Geologists can contribute to the understanding of baseline water systems and help to mitigate the potential effects that mining may pose for local ecosystems and to the communities that depend on them.