Understanding the reactivity of materials excavated for mining operations is a primary requirement of the ferrous and nonferrous mining rules. Assessing the reactivity of excavated earth materials starts with mine waste characterization. Mine waste characterization encompasses an assortment of chemical and physical analytical tests that can be used to measure the relative chemical reactivity of any mine waste (e.g., waste rock, tailings, development rock, unconsolidated overburden, soils, etc.).
Characterization tests are broadly classified as either static or kinetic type. Static tests are the foundational chemical tests that measure the physical characteristics, chemical composition, and mineralogy of a mine waste. Kinetic tests evaluate how a mine waste will react over time for specific environmental settings.
The LAM environmental research program maintains an up-to-date mine waste characterization database to compare reactivity of different rock types found in Minnesota. The database is an important resource for making technical decisions related to mine permit and environmental review actions.
Humidity cell array
Field scale weathering tests
Mine waste characterization research documents
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