Measurement and Modeling of Sulfide Tailings Diagenesis in Controlled Experimentation: Implications for Mine Waste Remediation
- Principal Investigators (PI): Jon Chorover, Professor and Department Head, Environmental Science
- Co-PI's: Bo Guo, Assistant Professor, Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences; Mark Brusseau, Professor; Rob Root, Associate Research Professor, Department of Environmental Science
- Partners: Charlie Alpers, USGS (United States Geological Survey); Roger Hooberheide, USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Region 8; Jennifer Crawford, USEPA Region 10; Barbara Neilson, Freeport McMoRan; Bryce Romig, Freeport McMoRan; Bryan Moravec, BHP; Anne Christopher, EPA Region 10; Jeffrey Dhont, EPA Region 9; Yolanda Sanchez, EPA Region 9; Dante Rodriguez, EPA Region 9; Jeff Collins Nevada, DEP; Nick Peterson, BP; Brian Milton, EPA 9
In this three-year research project, we are conducting column experiments on multiple sites to measure, in real time, the chemical reactions controlling weathering of mine tailings. Anticipated outcomes are to produce a Reactive Transport Model of the weathering reactions happening in mine tailings that are affecting the metal(loid)s mobility, and how the environmental conditions of the site affect them after 50 to 100 years of exposure.