Gravel-filling of shrinkage cracks in gold refining residue and its impact on rehabilitation in southwest Australia. 1. vegetation establishment and growth

Bell, R.W.ORCID: 0000-0002-7756-3755, Samaraweera, M.K.S.A. and Ho, G.E.ORCID: 0000-0001-9190-8812 (2000) Gravel-filling of shrinkage cracks in gold refining residue and its impact on rehabilitation in southwest Australia. 1. vegetation establishment and growth. In: International Conference on the Remediation and Management of Degraded Lands, 30 November - 2 December, Fremantle, Western Australia pp. 75-76.

Abstract

Gold ore refining residue is deposited as a slurry into residue storage areas where consolidation and drying takes place. Drying of the slurry involves significant loss of volume, which is expressed as consolidation, and shrinkage that results in vertical cracking. The cracks form an interconnected network that represents an opportunity for improving the surface drainage of the residue material that has low hydraulic conductivity, and low surface gradient and is therefore prone to waterlogging in the winter.

A novel approach was trialed where a sandy ferruginous gravel substrate was applied to large shrinkage cracks in gold residue to prevent their closure following rainfall and to maintain their structural integrity. It was hypothesised that such gravel application would preserve the role of shrinkage cracks in preferential flow of water and ions and perhaps enhance root growth. In this paper we report on two field experiments to examine the effect of gravel filling on soil properties and growth of the test species, Agropyron elongatum (Tall wheat grass), Triticosecale spp. (triticale) and Atriplex amnicola (saltbush). In a following paper, we report on the effects of gravel filling of shrinkage cracks on Ca2+ leaching from surface-incorporated gypsum.

Item Type:	Conference Paper
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Environmental Science
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/11860

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