Rock Extraction Research Articles

Automatic identification of irregular rock blocks from 3D point cloud data of rock surface

The block size is an important index for determining the integrity of rock masses, as well as the evidence for estimating the rock mass classification. However, obtaining the block size information of exposed rock is a time-consuming, labor-intensive and high risk work. This paper proposed a new method to automatically identify the rock block and calculate the block size based on the 3D point cloud data of rock surface. The proposed method includes four steps: (1) automatic identification of rock discontinuity and extraction of information based on several machine learning algorithms, (2) Rough extraction of block discontinuities combination by distance filtering and angle filtering, (3) accurate identification and extraction of blocks by applying mutual projection of centroid and adding angle repair coefficient, (4) calculation of block size by filling in the concavity outline of point cloud for single block. An automatically statistic and analyzed program is compiled by matlab language based on massive point cloud of block information. The method is applied in controllable boxes model and real road cut slope, making comparison with the results of former research and calculated results by specialized point cloud processing software. It reveals that the proposed method is applicable with high calculating accuracy and efficiency.

Geochemical Trends Reflecting Hydrocarbon Generation, Migration and Accumulation in Unconventional Reservoirs Based on Pyrolysis Data (on the Example of the Bazhenov Formation)

The current study is devoted to the determination and interpretation of geochemical trends reflecting hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation in unconventional reservoirs; the study is performed on the Bazhenov shale rock formation (Western Siberia, Russia). Results are based on more than 3000 Rock-Eval analyses of the samples from 34 wells drilled in the central part of the West Siberian petroleum basin, which is characterized by common marine sedimentation environments. Pyrolysis studies were carried out before and after the extraction of rocks by organic solvent. As a result, we have improved the accuracy of kerogen content and maturity determination and complemented the standard set of pyrolysis parameters with the content of heavy fraction of hydrocarbons. The data obtained for the wells from areas of different organic matter maturity was summarized in the form of cross-plots and diagrams reflecting geochemical evolution of the source rocks from the beginning to the end of the oil window. Interpretation of the obtained results revealed quantitative trends in the changes of generation potential, amount, and composition of generated hydrocarbons in rocks at different stages of oil generation process. The analysis of geochemical trends allowed us to improve approaches for the productivity evaluation of the formation and study the effect of organic matter maturity on distribution of productive intervals of different types.

The mechanics of sawing granite with diamond wire

Today, wire sawing of natural stone is undergoing widespread commercialization. In addition to rock extraction and processing with single wires, composed of a multitude of diamond-impregnated beads mounted onto a steel rope, this technology is increasingly used for slabbing of granite blocks on multi-wire machines. Evolving sophistication of stone sawing equipment dictates novel tool designs and formulations. For technologists specifying bead compositions, it is a common habit to instinctively follow the circular saw segment design guidelines. A poor tool performance is often an undesirable consequence of such an approach. To meet that challenge, theoretical models of sawing granite by means of a diamond wire saw and a diamond circular saw have been presented and contrasted with respect to diamond loading conditions. The analytical treatments are supported by scarcely available industrial quantitative assessments and qualitative observations. The evaluation of cutting forces and the identification of system characteristics affecting wire vibration and wire rotation are instrumental in both machine design and tool formulation. For practitioners working with granite, the provided knowledge is also essential to diagnose and prevent problems inherent in wire sawing, such as the high incidence of wire breakage, unsatisfactory tool life and cutting capability and eccentric bead wear.Graphical abstract

The salt-dome landscape genesis: paradoxes of rational nature management

The paper considers regional peculiarities of the use of natural resource potential of landscape geosystems formed in the course of halokinesis. Parameters of stability of salt-dome geosystems to anthropogenic influence resulting from the interaction of geodynamic processes and physical-geographical conditions are estimated. A method to evaluate the stability of landscape geosystems formed by salt-dome processes to anthropogenic transformation is offered. Accounting of volume of underground natural resources management connected, mainly, with salt rock extraction is significant. Excess of the total square of all forms of nature management under an area of the landscape geosystem formed by salt diapir, represented as the coefficient of nature management (CNM), acts as trigger risk. There are regularities of transforming the natural management structure in the regional models on the examples of basins: the Caspian-Cis-Urals, Trans-Carpathian, the Catalan, and Mexican. Within landscape geosystems having a salt-dome origin, the indicator of the coefficient of nature management can show as balanced geosystems, despite the development of subsurface resource management (Avery Island) or being in crisis geoecological situation (Iletskiy dome), so experienced anthropogenic catastrophes of different types (Jefferson Island, the Solotvinskiy dome). Principals of safe subsurface resource management and rational recreational-touristic use within salt structures of open kinds were developed.

ВПЛИВ МІСЦЯ РОЗМІЩЕННЯ ГІДРАВЛІЧНОГО ЕКСКАВАТОРА ЗІ ЗВОРОТНОЮ ЛОПАТОЮ У ВИБОЇ НА ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ВИЙМАННЯ ГІРНИЧОЇ МАСИ

Purpose. The well-known technological schemes for the development of overburden and production benches in open pit mines for the extraction of soft rocks are analyzed. It is noted that each scheme is characterized by certain parameters of mining operations, which are set taking into account specific mining and geological conditions, the requirements for optimality of mining and transport equipment, and safety. Methodology. To solve the problem, a comprehensive research method was used, which consists in the analysis of previous work on the research of the influence of the location of excavation and loading equipment in the face on the efficiency of its operation and analytical substantiation of the influence of the spatial arrangement of the excavator on its performance. Results. It is recommended to use hydraulic excavators of the «backhoe» type for open pit mining of soft rock deposits according to one of the three existing technological schemes, depending on the mining and geological conditions of mining. The influence of the excavation and loading equipment location relative to the face on its productivity and the completeness of the rock mass is shown. Originality. The interrelation of technological parameters of hydraulic excavators of the «backhoe» type with the prism of a shortage of minerals, which remains in the bottom of the ledge excavation, has been established. The graphical dependence of the technical performance of the excavator on the angle of its rotation for unloading is obtained. Practical value. It was found that with an increase in the angle of rotation of a hydraulic excavator with a backhoe for unloading from 30 о to 180 о , its productivity decreases by 2.0 times regardless of the dump truck location – below the standing level or at the standing level. In general, the productivity of the excavating and loading equipment when unloading it into a dump truck, which is located below the level of the excavator, is 9.7 % more than when the dump truck is located at the level of the excavator. References 12, tables 1, figures 3.

Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of beneficiated phosphate rock production in Tunisia

To improve the sustainable management of phosphorus, numerous LCA studies, using primary data, have been conducted for phosphorus recovery technologies from wastewater, but not for phosphate rock mining.This article addresses this issue by conducting a cradle to gate assessment of beneficiated phosphate rock production using primary data. This study aims to share an updated Life Cycle Inventory dataset of beneficiated phosphate rock production.The studied system is the open-pit mining operations and the wet beneficiation process located in the south of Tunisia. The functional unit is 1 kg of P2O5. Twelve environmental impact categories were assessed using the ReCiPe Midpoint method.The results of Life Cycle Inventory show that the average loss of phosphorus between mining operations, mechanical preparation, and the wet beneficiation is 0.3 kg of P2O5 per 1 kg P2O5. The losses occur mainly during the scrubbing and hydrocycloning. Compared to the production system in Florida, USA, according to the Ecoinvent database 3.4, the production of 1 kg P2O5 in Tunisia has higher Global Warming Potenzial, higher water depletion potential, higher PM10 emission, Photochemical oxidant formation, soil pollution potential, and human toxicity potential.In conclusion, primary data shows comparable results to the generic Life cycle Inventory of wet beneficiation phosphate rock in the Ecoinvent database. This study contributes to enlarge data about sedimentary phosphate rock extraction and beneficiation globally as currently only the USA and Morocco were reported in databases.

A column study of the impact of layering the different Lac Tio mine waste rock lithologies on drainage water quality

In the mining industry, the extraction of waste rocks (WR), without economic value, is needed to access ore deposits. The amount of WR are very large in the case of open pit mines. They are usually stored at the surface in waste rock piles. The presence of reactive minerals such as sulphides in waste rock can lead to the contamination of drainage water that come-out from these waste rock piles. In order to limit the production of contaminants and the volume of drainage water, an innovative method of construction of waste rock piles has been developed. In this context, an experimental waste rock pile was constructed at the Lac Tio mine near Havre-Saint-Pierre (Quebec, Canada) to evaluate the performance of this approach in field conditions. To understand the geochemical mixing between the leachate from the hemo-ilmenite and anorthosite waste rock layers constituting this experimental pile, tests using lab columns that were filled with layers of these two types of materials were run. The anorthosite and hemo-ilmenite waste rock subjected to column tests generated near-neutral drainage (pH ~7) containing up to 4.5 mg/l of nickel, and 1500 mg/l of sulphate. The nickel and sulphate release rates varied from one to two orders of magnitude depending on the type of waste rocks and their configuration (pure or mixed with each other). The drainage water quality was affected by changes in the volume of rinsing water, by the precipitation/dissolution of secondary minerals, and by Ni sorption within anorthosite waste rock. This study demonstrates that the storage of hemo-ilmenite waste rock over anorthosite waste rock is an effective way to reduce Ni levels in drainage waters from the Lac Tio mine materials.

Influence of the Undercut Anchor Head Angle on the Propagation of the Failure Zone of the Rock Medium.

The paper presents the results of a numerical analysis (FEM) describing the effect of the undercutting head angle on the formation of the rock mass failure zone during the initial stages of failure propagation. The research was carried out in the context of developing a technology for rock extraction by controlled pull-out of undercut anchors installed in the rock mass. The focus was on the initial stage of crack propagation and its trajectory for anchors embedded at an assumed constant depth and a value of the friction coefficient of the rock against the anchor head. It is shown that smaller angles favor smaller stripping angles and an increased radial impact of the head on the rock material (in the plane perpendicular to the head axis), while the impact of heads with larger angles is found to favor larger fracture penetration angles and faster penetration towards the free rock surface.

SOLVENTES EUTÉTICOS NATURAIS PROFUNDOS (NADES) NO PREPARO DE AMOSTRAS DE ROCHA FOSFÁTICA E SUPLEMENTO MINERAL PARA DETERMINAÇÃO ELEMENTAR POR TÉCNICAS DE PLASMA

NATURAL DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS (NADES) IN SAMPLE PREPARATION OF PHOSPHATE ROCK AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENT FOR ELEMENTARY DETERMINATION BY PLASMA-BASED TECHNIQUES. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) based on xylitol, citric acid, and malic acid were synthesized and used in ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and heating-bath extraction of phosphate rock and mineral supplement samples. Arsenic, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The results showed the NADES as promising solvents for extraction of inorganic matrices compared to reference values and concentrations obtained using microwave-assisted acid digestion (MW-AD). Significant differences were observed for some elements, suggesting different chemical interactions between the synthesized NADES and each monitored element. For analytes extraction of phosphate rock, UAE presented the best results for As, Cr and P. Zinc was extracted with UAE and heating bath. Concerning mineral supplement, no significant differences were observed for Ca (UAE), Cd (UAE and heating bath), K (UAE and heating bath), Mn (UAE and heating bath), Na (UAE and heating bath), and P (UAE and heating bath). The NADES is a greener and a potentially alternative for the sample preparation compared to the official methods of analysis, can being used as selective extractor solvent in conventional sample preparation methods.

Исследование цеолитсодержащих кремнистых пород Дагестана для получения минеральной добавки в цемент

Siliceous-carbonate rocks are widespread on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, in which the total content of zeolites and opal-cristobalite-tridymite phase (OCT) exceeds 45 %, and the content of calcite is above 30 %. The rocks, composing a productive stratum (at least, most of it), lithologically correspond to opoka-like and highly siliceous limestones, zeolite-containing (10–15 %) and zeolite (40 % or more), weakly quartz and weakly clayey. However, they are distinguished from pure limestones by a low value of actual calcite part — often less than 50 %. Therefore, in this case, the section of the productive strata is defined as «folded by siliceous-carbonate zeolite-containing rocks.» Such rocks, in accordance with the results of laboratory and technological study, are considered as raw materials for the production of building materials. Zeolite-containing rocks are suitable for use as an additive in Portland cement, which will save cement clinker in the production process and improve the quality of cement. Prospecting works for zeolites and zeolite-containing rocks in the Levashinskaya (Levashinsky district) and Rubaschayskaya (Tabasaran and Kaitagsky districts) areas of Mountainous Dagestan were carried out by the non-metallic party of JSC Sevkavgeologiya in 2007–2009. The resources of siliceous zeolite-containing rocks are in the P1 category — 49.308 million tons, in the P2 category — 69.470 million tons. The predicted resources, their laboratory and technological properties (physicochemical, chemical, technological) indicate the possibility of creating a solid mineral resource base and construction of large complexes for the extraction and processing of zeolites and siliceous rocks in Levashinsky (Levoberezhny and Pravoberezhny areas) and Tabasaran (Dyubek area) regions of the Republic of Dagestan.

Research in the field of evaluation of anfo explosive preparation installations, Tests and results

The technical-economic efficiency of rock extraction works depends significantly on the drilling and blasting works as well as the adjacent costs. The cost of the explosive is an important component in these and the generalization of the widespread use of the use of bulk explosives (ANFO) has generated a significant reduction in the cost. Making the explosive close to the place of use in fixed or semi-stationary installations on the quarry stage eliminates the costs related to storage or long-term storage, transport, escort, security. However, installations for the manufacture of ANFO type explosives must consistently produce a simple quality explosive mixture. The quality lies in the participation of the precursors as well as in the degree of homogenization, stability and a good behavior to external stimuli that can lead to sensibility to initiation stimuli or inhibition of sensitivity where the harmful influence of moisture in the raw material or environment must be emphasized. The paper presents tests and results obtained in recent years for such installations used by several companies in Romania performed under the supervision of INSEMEX specialists. These assessments were completed with the certification of explosives manufacturing facilities for the specified operating parameters as well as for explosives.

Current state and prospects of stone mining and stone processing waste use in silicate industries (review)

A review of foreign and native publications on the use of man-made raw materials, which is formed during the extraction and processing of rocks, in the silicate materials production was presented. It was shown that, the disposal of large-scale industrial waste from mining and ore processing industrial complexes is promising for solving environmental problems and expanding the raw material base of silicate industries. An increase in the waste consumption degree will contribute to the integrated use of mineral raw materials, as well as a decrease in the volume of their accumulation and an improvement in the environmental situation. A literature review has shown the obvious potential of waste as an alternative raw material for partial or complete replacement of traditional raw materials in various silicate industries. On the example of artificial stone, stone casting, cement, concrete, ceramic bricks and tiles production, the technologies of silicate materials and products were considered, where waste disposal is technologically sound and economically feasible. It was shown that, mineral technogenic raw materials (wastes from mining, mechanical processing and enrichment of rocks) are used as a concrete, artificial stone and other composite binder’s filler, as non-plastic and fluxing components of ceramics bodies, and even as the main raw material in the production of stone casting. On specific examples, it was considered how a reasonable rocks waste use in the silicate materials production can improve the products properties. Requirements were formulated and criteria for the applicability of stone mining and stone processing waste in the silicate materials production were determined, consideration of which will reduce the hazards and risks associated with the possible presence of technologically harmful and potentially hazardous substances in waste. Knowledge of the using peculiarities wastes from the extraction and processing of the different rocks will allow to optimize technological processes when replacing natural raw materials with technogenic materials. Providing scientific and technical information on the advantages of using waste in the ceramic, glass-crystalline, binders and composite materials production will contribute to the development of resource-saving environmentally friendly technologies, natural resources rational use and increase of industrial enterprises responsibility to society and nature.

Investigation of the sintering kinetic and development of ceramic masses for obtaining large-format porcelain stoneware in the conditions of high-speed firing

The paper considers the resource and energy saving reserves in the production of large-format stoneware slabs. The possibility of replacing high-quality feldspars with materials of technogenic origin, such as the extraction and processing waste of various feldspar-bearing rocks of domestic deposits has been investigated. The possibility of sintering process intensification has been investigated, as a condition for the use of high-speed firing modes in the stoneware production. As a result of the carried out studies, the kinetic features of ceramic masses sintering with alkaline syenites, granites and pegmatite enrichment wastes as fluxing component were determined. The formation conditions of densely sintered materials with a complex of high operational properties have been determined. The expediency of replacing Turkish feldspars with waste products of alkaline syenites has been established, while the level of physical, mechanical and operational properties of stoneware slabs meets the requirements of international standards. It is shown that, the use of complex flux, including feldspar-bearing rocks waste and dolomite, provides a significant decrease in the firing temperature of products (up to 1150 °C) while maintaining a high level of properties of stoneware slabs of class BІa. The obtained data indicate the possibility of optimizing the heat treatment parameters from the view point of energy saving with the further use of alternative fluxes in the large-format stoneware production. On the example of using the alkaline syenites wastes, the optimal ratios of the clay and fluxing components of ceramic masses have been established to obtain products with a complex of high performance characteristics when burning white clays of different chemical and mineral composition, which is a necessary condition for using a wide range of decorating techniques stoneware slabs. The structural-phase features of materials obtained under the conditions of high-speed firing are established: the formation of finely dispersed acicular mullite, which plays the role of a reinforcing component, as well as high structural homogeneity and maximum compaction, as evidenced by a few individual small pores presence. The combination of excellent technical qualities and large dimensions opens up new possibilities for the use of stoneware slabs as structural elements (countertops, ventilated facades, insulating panels for the installation of electrical systems, etc.).

Rock Location and Property Analysis of Lunar Regolith at Chang’E-4 Landing Site Based on Local Correlation and Semblance Analysis

The Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR) onboard the Yutu-2 rover from China’s Chang’E-4 (CE-4) mission is used to probe the subsurface structure and the near-surface stratigraphic structure of the lunar regolith on the farside of the Moon. Structural analysis of regolith could provide abundant information on the formation and evolution of the Moon, in which the rock location and property analysis are the key procedures during the interpretation of LPR data. The subsurface velocity of electromagnetic waves is a vital parameter for stratigraphic division, rock location estimates, and calculating the rock properties in the interpretation of LPR data. In this paper, we propose a procedure that combines the regolith rock extraction technique based on local correlation between the two sets of LPR high-frequency channel data and the common offset semblance analysis to determine the velocity from LPR diffraction hyperbola. We consider the heterogeneity of the regolith and derive the relative permittivity distribution based on the rock extraction and semblance analysis. The numerical simulation results show that the procedure is able to obtain the high-precision position and properties of the rock. Furthermore, we apply this procedure to CE-4 LPR data and obtain preferable estimations of the rock locations and the properties of the lunar subsurface regolith.

An Integrated Approach for Extraction of Carbonate Rocks Based on Landsat OLI Data: a Case Study around Stone Forest, Southwest China – Upgrading for Land-use Planning Purposes

Geological remote sensing information extraction of the lithology has always been the hotspot and difficulty in remote sensing applications. Carbonate rocks covered more than 3.4 million km2 in China. The study area is located around Stone Forest, which is World Natural Heritage. Sedimentary rocks distributes mainly in the area, and their spectral characteristics are complex and difficult to be recognized by remote sensing. Landsat OLI data was selected as the information source. The false color synthesis, principal component change, band ratio and other processing technologies of OLI data were applied to the lithological enhancement identification of carbonate rocks. Selected information will be used to improve the quality of the land-use planning.

An Experimental Study on Quarry Dust as Partial Replacement for Sand in Concrete

Concrete plays the key role and a large quantum of concrete is being utilized in every construction practices. Quarry Dust which is a other non-voluble waste material after the extraction and processing of rocks to form fine particles less than 4.75mm.The Quarry dust can be an alternative to the river sand since river sand is expensive due to excessive cost of transportation from natural sources and also large scale depletion of these sources creates environmental problems .In this project work the usage of different quarry dusts by studying the physical and chemical properties, workability of the quarry dust concrete, with different ratios of 0%, 20%, 30%&40% for M20 grade of concrete behavior of quarry dust reinforced cement concrete beams, Sieve analysis was conducted for quarry dust and sand. Mix design has been developed using IS Mix Design for various proportion of four different quarry dust with river sand. Tests were conducted on cubes and cylinders to study the compressive and tensile strengths of concrete made of various proportion of quarry dust with river sand, optimum strength test values of various proportion of different quarry dust with river sand and the results were compared with natural sand.

Composite material based on andesite of Transcarpathia

Composite materials for various purposes are made on the basis of initial mixtures of fillers and bonding components. The varieties of these components and their quantitative ratio determine the qualitative indicators of the composite. This causes rosettes of the raw material base for the production of composites, including the use of by-products of mineral extraction, which meets the objectives of resource saving.
 This paper presents the results of the study of composite materials on the basis of by-products of extraction of igneous rocks of Transcarpathia - siftings of andesite as a filler and copolymer Latex 2012 as a matrix. The analysis of chemical and mineralogical composition of andesite siftings from Khust quarry was carried out.
 An analysis of the dependence of the main physical and mechanical characteristics of the studied composites on the concentration of andesite in the range of 55-85 wt. % and of the corresponding change in the quantitative ratio of filler and copolymer is performed. Differences in parameters using andesite samples with different particle size distribution (the poly-fractional with particle size ˂ 3 mm and the dispersion one with particle size ˂ 0.5 mm) were determined.
 The peculiarities of the formation of the pore structure of the composite material obtained using andesite samples of different granulometry connected with the increasing degree of dispersion associated with the increase in the number of filler particles in the composite, increasing adhesion forces in the copolymer-filler system and increasing of surface energy of andesite particles are shown.
 The possibility of increasing the abrasive resistance of the composite material when using the initial mixture based on the andesite-copolymer system has been experimentally confirmed.

Mechanical characterisation of sustainable fibre-reinforced lightweight concrete incorporating waste coconut shell as coarse aggregate and sisal fibre

The construction industry is largely dependent on concrete as a construction material. The aggregate occupies a major volume of concrete. However, the continuous extraction of granite rock for coarse aggregate leads to the increase in demand of natural resources of future generations. In this study, coconut shell, an agricultural waste, is used to replace conventional aggregate in concrete for producing coconut shell lightweight concrete. To enhance the weak mechanical characteristics of lightweight concrete, various contents of sisal fibre at 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% have been added on the basis of the binder’s weight. Mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus and impact resistance, were examined. Results showed that the compressive strength increased by up to 6% when 3% fibre was added. An improvement in split tensile strength of 14%, flexural strength of 11% and modulus of elasticity of 6% was observed when a maximum of 3% fibre was added. Impact resistance was also excellent after the addition of sisal fibre. Thus, coconut shell concrete with sisal fibre is considered as a suitable and eco-friendly construction material alternative for the construction industry.

The dynamics of economic action and the problems of its social embedding – Ethical challenges in view of the nascent commercial use of outer space

As a result of the increasing economical exploitation of outer space, humanity faces a new challenge that, as well as having economic advantages, also entails a great many ecological hazards. At present, the human race is encroaching on outer space, particularly in the form of almost 5000 active satellites and the corresponding space debris they produce. For the large part, this debris burns up on entering the Earth’s atmosphere, yet time and again it still does cause damage. However, this could change dramatically if, as is now foreseeable, further uses of outer space, such as tourism, so-called satellite mega-constellations, regular transport flights to the moon or even Mars and the extraction of water and valuable rocks from celestial bodies, are expanded. There is a danger that ecological damage like that of the earlier phases of economic development will become externalised and ultimately pose a threat to the whole of humanity. Sautter’s ‘global “sustainability trilemma”’ remains unresolved. This trilemma consists in the fact that, in political resolutions, ‘the growth of resource-intensive prosperity is weighted far more highly than the conservation of functioning ecosystems and the implementation of inter- and intragenerational “justice”’ and that there are ‘up until now no efficient and ethically acceptable solutions’ for this problem. In this situation, it is therefore more important that rules for the sustainable use of outer space be established and enshrined as legally binding so that it becomes possible to minimise or even to preclude negative ecological consequences. Contribution: Although the commercial use of outer space does not seem to be a crucial point, it marks a new step of the dynamics of modern economics that has to be identified as an important ethical challenge. The article discusses aspects of ethics, law, religion and economy in a multidisciplinary way.

FREDERIC-BACK PARK, MONTREAL, CANADA: HOW 40 MILLION TONNES OF SOLID WASTE SUPPORT A PUBLIC PARK

The City of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, took over the management, in 1988, of a former limestone quarry that was also used as landfill site. The surrounding population of this site was exposed to many nuisances related to the rock extraction and transformation and to the landfilling activities. So, the main goal of the city was to rehabilitate this degraded site, build a public park and give it back to the population. The site’s total area covers 192 ha. From this surface, 72 ha were devoted to the landfill. Over the years, 40 million tons of municipal solid waste have been landfilled. Building a park on such a large site that still produces landfill gas and leachate involves several major challenges. The priority was first to control the landfill gas and the leachate to minimize environmental risks and impacts. In parallel, a process involving design workshops, research, testing, brainstorming and topographical models was launched in order to develop the Master Plan for the park construction. The Master Plan provides the framework for teams working on the project, sets the guidelines for the site’s rehabilitation and phase-by-phase transformation based on the principles of sustainable development. The park construction was initiated in the mid nineties. Nowadays, 48 hectares are already open to the population. The Park will be finalized around 2026 and will then be completely accessible to the public. This is the result of a close collaboration between the Department of Parks and the Department of Environment of the City of Montreal.