Mine waste management in arid areas

Summary

Field trials were conducted on the sponsoring companies mine sites at Leonora, Laverton, Leinster and Mt Magnet.

The sites were highly variable, but were mostly alkaline and saline. Seventy plant species were tested in 9 trials over three years.

Twelve species (ranked in order of success) are now recommended for revegetation of dumps.

Recommendations are made on various soil amendments, time of seeding, seeding rates and ripline intensity.

Keywords: minewaste, dust, stockpiles, revegetation, arid areas