The Application of Processed Organic Waste to Acid Mine Tailings

Organization
Laurentian University
Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA)
Project
National CLRA Conference Papers
Resource Type
Report
Authors
Gerard Courtin
Resource Date:
1976
Page Length
6

The present three-year investigation which is funded by the Ministry of the Environment {Ontario} was initiated in September 1973 and has three aims:

  1. the monitoring of seepage water quality (bacteria and heavy metals),
  2. the role of sewa9e sludge as a fertilizer and soil ameliorant,
  3. the role of the tailings as a filter bed to bacteria and heavy metals.

There are, however, two subjective conclusions that may be made. do serious heavy metal toxicity symptoms have been noted~ and there \>Jas a very marked visible change in the vigour of the tailings grasses at the end of the 1975 field season. The lack of toxicity indicates that the organic matter is tying up heavy metals over and above changes t:iat occur in texture and \'later-holding capacity. Furthermore, whereas the nitrogen is present in minimal quantities, it is present in a very favourable form for plant growth and is having a maximal effect as a fertilizer.