Geochemical Services
Terrachem has expertise in both mineral exploration and environmental geochemistry, although our main focus is on environmental geochemistry.
Mining environmental geochemistry is centred around expertise in Acid & Metalliferous Drainage (AMD) or Acid Rock Drainage (ARD), depending on jurisdictional semantics. Typicall neutral mine drainage and additional factors such as process, water treatment and blasting residues are included as well.
Leaching potential from rock exposures in open pits and underground workings, tailings, waste rock and process residues are all important considerations, when assessing the risk to surface water and groundwater resources associated with a mining operation. Process and water treatment effluents can also by critical considerations, depending on circumstances. Terrachem specialises in geochemical aspects of water and waste management, with a view to minimising or eliminating environmental impacts.
Materials are assessed based on their geochemical properties, processes to which they may be subjected and their environmental-geological and mining context. We rely on field sampling, laboratory analysis, data analysis and modelling to provide a qualitative and quantitative understanding of potential geochemical hazards. The information generated through this work is used to assess environmental risk and to develop mitigation strategies to minimise this risk.
Assessments may use standardised tests or tailored tests to meaningfully evaluate the geochemical composition and behaviour. This process depends on several factors, including the type of material, the mining and processing plan, and the legal context of the operation. Analytical or numerical modelling may be used to synthesise data, which provides normally aims to provide a quantitative or semi-quantitative understanding of a system, although may also be qualitative in nature. This enables rational management approaches and measures to be developed, compared and implemented and for risk management strategies to be implemented using defensible and quantifiable criteria.
Our geochemical expertise and experience includes:
Waste Characterisation - Characterisation of various geochemical properties of mine waste rock, tailings and process wastes, as well as industrial, power generation and other wastes to evaluate their pollution potential.
Acid & Metalliferous Drainage (AMD) assessments - also referred to as Acid Rock Drainage (ARD).
Acid Sulphate Soils (ASS) and sediment assessments - Associated with several different types of projects, including dredging, construction / infrastructure and water supply. Some mining projects are also subject to ASS assessment criteria, depending on the commodity of interest.
Water Quality assessments - including contact surface water quality and seepage water quality associated with potentially polluting materials and liquid wastes.
Mine Pit Lake Water Quality - Assessment and modelling of mine pit lake water quality.
Mining and industrial Waste Contamination Evaluation - Contamination from tailings, waste rock, slag, process wastes and other mining and industrial wastes.
