Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions
The oxidation of sulfide minerals such as pyrite present in waste rock results in elevated sulfate, enhanced metal loadings and in many cases low pH conditions. Recently, many mines have opened in remote areas, including regions subject to permafrost conditions. In these regions, freeze-thaw cycles...
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2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 https://doaj.org/article/9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb 2023-05-15T17:55:39+02:00 Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions Xueying Yi Danyang Su Nicolas Seigneur Klaus Ulrich Mayer 2021-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 https://doaj.org/article/9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675/full https://doaj.org/toc/2624-9375 2624-9375 doi:10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 https://doaj.org/article/9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb Frontiers in Water, Vol 3 (2021) reactive transport modeling waste rock freeze-thaw (F/T) cycle permafrost thermal cover water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 2022-12-31T10:29:53Z The oxidation of sulfide minerals such as pyrite present in waste rock results in elevated sulfate, enhanced metal loadings and in many cases low pH conditions. Recently, many mines have opened in remote areas, including regions subject to permafrost conditions. In these regions, freeze-thaw cycles and the possible development of permafrost in mine waste add to the complexity of weathering processes, drainage volumes and mass loadings. To assess weathering in these waste rock piles, the reactive transport code MIN3P-HPC has been enhanced by implementing constitutive relationships related to freeze-thaw cycles that control flow patterns, solute transport, generation and transport of heat, as well as geochemical reactions and their rates. Simulations of a hypothetical pyrite-rich waste rock pile placed onto natural permafrost were conducted under reference climate conditions. Additionally, the effect of a warming climate was also studied through a sensitivity analysis. The simulation results indicate a potentially strong coupled effect of sulfide mineral weathering rates and a warming climate on the evolution and persistence of permafrost within waste rock piles and the release of acidic drainage. For relatively low sulfide mineral oxidation rates, the simulations indicate that permafrost can develop within waste rock piles, even under warming climate conditions. However, the results for low reactivity also show that mass loadings can increase by >50% in response to a slight warming of climate (3°C), relative to reference climate conditions. For the chosen reference reaction rates, permafrost develops under reference climate conditions in the simulated waste rock pile; however, permafrost cannot be maintained for a marginally warmer climate, leading to internal heating of the pile and substantially increased production of acidic drainage (>550%). For high reaction rates, the simulations suggest that internal heating takes place irrespective of climate conditions. Evaluation of thermal covers indicates that ... Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Rock Pile ENVELOPE(-65.167,-65.167,-68.417,-68.417) Frontiers in Water 3 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
reactive transport modeling waste rock freeze-thaw (F/T) cycle permafrost thermal cover water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 |
spellingShingle |
reactive transport modeling waste rock freeze-thaw (F/T) cycle permafrost thermal cover water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Xueying Yi Danyang Su Nicolas Seigneur Klaus Ulrich Mayer Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
topic_facet |
reactive transport modeling waste rock freeze-thaw (F/T) cycle permafrost thermal cover water quality Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 |
description |
The oxidation of sulfide minerals such as pyrite present in waste rock results in elevated sulfate, enhanced metal loadings and in many cases low pH conditions. Recently, many mines have opened in remote areas, including regions subject to permafrost conditions. In these regions, freeze-thaw cycles and the possible development of permafrost in mine waste add to the complexity of weathering processes, drainage volumes and mass loadings. To assess weathering in these waste rock piles, the reactive transport code MIN3P-HPC has been enhanced by implementing constitutive relationships related to freeze-thaw cycles that control flow patterns, solute transport, generation and transport of heat, as well as geochemical reactions and their rates. Simulations of a hypothetical pyrite-rich waste rock pile placed onto natural permafrost were conducted under reference climate conditions. Additionally, the effect of a warming climate was also studied through a sensitivity analysis. The simulation results indicate a potentially strong coupled effect of sulfide mineral weathering rates and a warming climate on the evolution and persistence of permafrost within waste rock piles and the release of acidic drainage. For relatively low sulfide mineral oxidation rates, the simulations indicate that permafrost can develop within waste rock piles, even under warming climate conditions. However, the results for low reactivity also show that mass loadings can increase by >50% in response to a slight warming of climate (3°C), relative to reference climate conditions. For the chosen reference reaction rates, permafrost develops under reference climate conditions in the simulated waste rock pile; however, permafrost cannot be maintained for a marginally warmer climate, leading to internal heating of the pile and substantially increased production of acidic drainage (>550%). For high reaction rates, the simulations suggest that internal heating takes place irrespective of climate conditions. Evaluation of thermal covers indicates that ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Xueying Yi Danyang Su Nicolas Seigneur Klaus Ulrich Mayer |
author_facet |
Xueying Yi Danyang Su Nicolas Seigneur Klaus Ulrich Mayer |
author_sort |
Xueying Yi |
title |
Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
title_short |
Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
title_full |
Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
title_fullStr |
Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Modeling of Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical (THC) Processes During Waste Rock Weathering Under Permafrost Conditions |
title_sort |
modeling of thermal-hydrological-chemical (thc) processes during waste rock weathering under permafrost conditions |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 https://doaj.org/article/9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-65.167,-65.167,-68.417,-68.417) |
geographic |
Rock Pile |
geographic_facet |
Rock Pile |
genre |
permafrost |
genre_facet |
permafrost |
op_source |
Frontiers in Water, Vol 3 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675/full https://doaj.org/toc/2624-9375 2624-9375 doi:10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 https://doaj.org/article/9d9653a7947a40d2b5ac8cb98fb690eb |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.645675 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Water |
container_volume |
3 |
_version_ |
1766163616305774592 |