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Tracer tests to evaluate hydraulic residence time in limestone drains: Case study of the Lorraine site, Latulipe, Québec, Canada

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 26; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/17480930.2011.613567

1748-0949

Abdelkabir Maqsoud, Bruno Bussière, Michel Aubertin, Benoît Plante, Johanne Cyr,

Soil and Unsaturated Flow

Abstract Acid mine drainage (AMD) remains one of the major environmental problems for the mining industry. When AMD is produced on a mine site, passive treatment techniques such as limestone drains (LDs) can be used to improve water quality, particularly when the effluent is relatively small. In 1999, LDs were installed in combination with a cover with capillary barrier effects to rehabilitate the abandoned acid-generating Lorraine mine site in Quebéc, Canada. However, the quality of the water exiting the LD does not meet the local regulations (even if a significant improvement has been observed). To better understand the behaviour of the drains, the hydraulic residence time (HRT) was evaluated using various tracer tests. Tests' results indicate that the HRT in the Lorraine LDs is close to the minimum value targeted at the design stage but is significantly different than those estimated from the geometrical characteristics and porosity of the drains and the water flow discharge. Keywords: acid mine drainagelimestone drainstracer testshydraulic residence time Acknowledgements This work has been supported financially by the partners of the Industrial NSERC-Polytechnique-UQAT Chair ( www.enviro-geremi.polymtl.ca) and by the Canada Research Chair on Restoration of Abandoned Mine Sites ( http://web2.uqat.ca/crc-bussiere/). The financial contribution of the 'Fondation de l'Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue' is also acknowledged. Finally, the authors thank the MRNF for their contribution to the project, and Nil Gaudet, David Bouchard and Mathieu Villeneuve for the laboratory and field work.