The absence of robust and reliable geochemical characterization can indicate a high potential for environmental and social impact during the life of the mine and post-mine closure, and can impact the development of a mining project in its different stages.
"Know your enemy and know yourself..." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
It is fundamental for the mining entrepreneur to know as much as possible about the characteristics of both the mineral ore of the commodity and the geological materials that host it. Logically, this applies to gold mining, especially from sulphide ores. Over the course of the mining operations, the geological materials will be removed from the natural environment, modified, and later disposed of as waste rock or tailings, disturbing a presumably balanced environment.
From a geochemical point of view, the mine operator should know characteristics like grain size, chemical and mineralogical compositions, and short- and long-term chemical stability prediction. The operator should also simulate geochemical conditions of the tailing storage facilities (TSFs) that, in place of their original environment, will store the materials from mining operations. Special attention should be given to gold mining TSFs containing cyanide residues, among other commonly found contaminants, such as arsenic. It is precisely this knowledge that serves as the primary guideline to allow for the planning, design, and construction of environmentally safe TSFs and, therefore, good practices in mining waste management.
If the mining entrepreneur, including gold mining, understands the geochemical characteristics of their waste rock and tailings, there will be significant opportunities to utilize these ‘allies’ to better design and understand the mine, thereby emerging ‘victorious in the war.’ Otherwise, the tailings and waste rock will be their ‘enemies,’ and so the ‘war could be lost’ through major socio-environmental and financial impacts, even post-closure.
