Tool for Acid Rock Drainage and Metal Leaching Prevention and Management
Water is integral to the healthy functioning of the environment, economy and to human wellbeing. acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD/ML) are natural processes that occur when sulphide minerals in rocks are exposed to air and water, producing sulfuric acid.
- When waste material that contains sulphide minerals is not managed in the right way on mine sites, these natural chemical processes can accelerate, resulting in highly acidic water that can leach metals from the rock into the surrounding environment.
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The Tool provides a comprehensive framework to improve how mining companies manage materials throughout the mining lifecycle – from exploration through to post-closure – as they work to prevent the release of highly acidic or metal-rich water from the process.
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This new resource is designed to support the implementation of INAP’s Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide, by making it accessible to non-specialist audiences working both at operational mine sites and at a corporate level. An additional Excel-based function allows users to quickly navigate and filter through a large volume of technical information, delivering relevant outputs on a single page tailored to specific lifecycle stages and practice areas.
The Tool helps to:
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Facilitate a bridge between the guidance provided in the GARD guide and the site-specific actions that often need subject matter expert input at an asset level.
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Provide a practical tool that assesses and summarises relevant ARD/ML prevention and management information relevant at each asset development stage.
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Support and motivate non-specialists to efficiently make asset-level decisions related to the implementation of ARD/ML prevention and management leading practices.
