Short Courses

Mine Water Management

Professional Development Courses | June 16, 2025

Available Courses

Mine Water Treatment Technologies

Course Description

Morning Session: Mine Water Treatment In the morning session, we will begin by examining the fundamental drivers behind mine water treatment, including environmental, regulatory, and economic factors. Participants will learn about the typical scenarios encountered in mine-impacted water, with a focus on understanding the range of contaminants commonly found in these waters. The session will provide an overview of the challenges and considerations that shape treatment strategies, setting the stage for the technologies and solutions discussed later in the course.

Midday Session: Technologies for Treating Mine-Impacted Waters The midday session will delve into the various treatment technologies employed for mine-impacted waters. We will cover the key technologies used in the industry to address different types of contaminants, with a detailed focus on the classes of contaminants removed. Participants will gain insights into the consumables required for these processes and the main by-products generated. Through practical examples, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of different treatment options, equipping students with a strong understanding of the available technologies.

Afternoon Session: Case Study In the afternoon session, we will engage in a hands-on case study that walks participants through a Best Available Technologies (BAT) assessment for mine-impacted water treatment. Using a real-world example, the session will teach participants how to rationalize and evaluate treatment solutions for a variety of mine water scenarios, with particular emphasis on selenium removal. Students will learn how to assess the effectiveness of different treatment options and arrive at an optimal solution for their own projects.

Final Session: Integration of AI in Mine Water Treatment and Demonstration Plant Visit The course will conclude with an exciting final session exploring the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in mine water treatment. Participants will gain insights into how AI is shaping the future of the industry, including the automation and optimization of treatment processes. The session will be interactive, providing opportunities for discussion on how AI can enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Presenters

Mine Water Balance Modeling Using Gold Sim

Course Description

The 1-Day GoldSim Training Course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the GoldSim software, specifically focusing on mine water management applications. The workshop aims to introduce participants to the GoldSim framework and its various elements, teach them how to read, navigate, and understand complex models, and provide tools to become proficient modelers and find answers when questions arise. The workshop is divided into two main sessions: the morning session covers the basics of the GoldSim framework, basic input elements, expressions, units, element outputs, and a simple rainfall runoff example, while the afternoon session focuses on time series data, dynamic simulation, feedback loops, and practical exercises such as building hierarchical models and exploring realistic models focusing on mine water management.

Presenters

Managing the Mine Water Balance through Closure into Post-Closure

Course Description

While the mine water management infrastructure may adequately handle the range of conditions during operations, transitioning to closure can upend the system’s balance. At any stage of the mine lifecycle, an upset water balance poses a major risk to environmental performance. At closure the volume of water in circulation is appreciable and the accumulation of impacted water must be anticipated and handled to avoid an upset. Post-closure water management and maintenance remain a major risk and expense which require a strategic approach to balance cost, risk, and outcomes. It’s never too early to plan for closure: selecting water infrastructure and strategies that can serve the mine throughout the lifecycle and the various associated transitions is often the best approach.

This all-day short course will take the participants from the operational water balance and the elements employed to manage water, through a review of how closure might disrupt the balance, to an estimate of the post-closure water situation and measures required to re-establish a balance. The discussions will be broad, covering a variety of settings and types of operation, so that participants are exposed to a range of issues that might be encountered and the measures that can be applied to their projects. Risk, climate variability, and permit restrictions will be discussed, along with mitigation strategies and treatment technologies. Those participants responsible for, or engaged in, an actual site, are encouraged to bring their case and work on it as the workshop steps through the closure timeline.

Presenters

Techno-economic decision making to enhance mine water management and stewardship

Course Description

Water is a pressing issue facing the mining sector globally. However, technologies that could enhance mine water management for operations and closure are sometimes neglected due to perceived high cost and the challenges associated with putting an economic value on water preservation. This course introduces techno-economic models and other frameworks that can be used to improve decision making in this context. It will cover strategies related to the sustainable use of water in mining and minerals processing operations, with a focus on a holistic and practical perspective. The course is suited to professionals from public, private and/or community with some experience in the use and sustainable management of water.

Presenters

Mine Water Management

Available Courses

Mine Water Treatment Technologies

Mohsen Bark

Farzad Mohamm

Mine Water Balance Modeling Using Gold Sim

Rick Kossik

Jason Lillywhite

Managing the Mine Water Balance through Closure into Post-Closure

Andrew Watson

Sara Wilkins

Emily Sportsman

Brenda Bailey

Morgan Schauerte

Resa Furey

Techno-economic decision making to enhance mine water management and stewardship

Benjamin Cox

Nadja Kunz