title: Impact of fresh tailing deposition on the evolution of groundwater hydrogeochemistry at the abandoned Manitou mine site, Quebec, Canada.
abstract: The abandoned Manitou mine site has produced acid mine drainage (AMD) for several decades. In order to limit the detrimental environmental impacts of AMD, different rehabilitation scenarios were proposed and analyzed. The selected rehabilitation scenario was to use fresh tailings from the neighboring Goldex gold mine as monolayer cover and to maintain an elevated water table. In order to assess the impact of the Goldex tailing deposition on the hydrogeochemistry of the Manitou mine site, a network of 30 piezometers was installed. These piezometers were used for continuous measurement of the groundwater level, as well as for water sampling campaigns for chemical quality monitoring, over a 3-year period. Hydrochemical data were analyzed using principal component analysis. Results clearly showed the benefic impact of fresh tailing deposition on the groundwater quality around the contaminated area. These findings were also confirmed by the evolution of electrical conductivity. In addition to the improvement of the physicochemical quality of water on the Manitou mine site, new tailing deposition induced an increase of water table level. However, at this time, the Manitou reactive tailings are not completely submerged and possible oxidation might still occur, especially after ceasing of the fresh tailing deposition. Therefore, complementary rehabilitation scenarios should still be considered.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 University Blvd, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 5E4. abdelkabir.maqsoud@uqat.ca.
authors.forename: Abdelkabir
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5622-1094
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maqsoud
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 University Blvd, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 5E4.
authors.forename: Carmen Mihaela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Neculita
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 University Blvd, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 5E4.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bussière
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), 445 University Blvd, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 5E4.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benzaazoua
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, 5700, 4ème Av. Ouest, Quebec, QC, Canada, G1S 4X4.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dionne
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D008906:Mining; D011792:Quebec; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Abandoned mine site; Acid mine drainage; Hydrochemical data; Monolayer cover; Principal component analysis
references.citation: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2013 Apr;20(4):2421-34
references.pmid: 22935861
references.citation: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Jan;22(1):231-47
references.pmid: 25060309