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The Millennium Plug Project at the Britannia Beach Research Field Station

Brennan Lang, John Meech, and Rimas Pakalnis. The Millennium Plug Project at the Britannia Beach Research Field Station. 3. cerm. Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals, and Materials. Mine History. Britannia Mine operated between 1902-1963 by the

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The Millennium Plug Project at the Britannia Beach Research Field Station

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  1. Brennan Lang, John Meech, and Rimas Pakalnis The Millennium Plug Projectat the Britannia Beach Research Field Station 3 cerm Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals, and Materials

  2. Mine History Britannia Mine operated between 1902-1963 by the Britannia Mining and Smelting Co. and between 1963-1974 by the Anaconda Mining Company - 47 million tonnes of ore mined - 150 km of underground development - 5 open pits (glory holes) Britannia Concentrator

  3. Housing Development Britannia Mines and Reclamation Corporation Britannia Beach Historical Society - BC Museum of Mining British Columbia Assets and Land - a Crown Corporation Britannia Mines and Reclamation Corporation Howe Sound Site Ownership • Britannia Mines and Reclamation Ltd. – owns mine and mineral claims, as well as residential area north of Britannia Creek and “North Fan Area” • Britannia Beach Historical Society – owns most of “South Fan Area” • Province of B.C. – owns foreshore area between highway and Howe Sound

  4. Responsibility BMARC is the only organization to declare itself a Responsible Person under the Waste Management Act Other Potentially Responsible Persons that have been named as part of the Contaminated Sites process are: Private PRPs: Alcoa, Canzinco, Alumax Inc., Anaconda/Arco, Howmet Holdings Corporation, Arrowhead/Ivaco, Intalco Aluminum Corporation Province of British Columbia Government of Canada

  5. Reclamation Issues • Acid mine drainage from tunnels (500 m3/hr) • Approximately ½ tonne of copper and ½ tonne of zinc discharged to Howe Sound each day • Greater than 10,000 tonnes of heavy metals since closure • Contamination of groundwater in the Britannia Fan • Potential impacts on aquatic life • Waste dumps and stockpiles • Tailings • Sealing of abandoned tunnels and shafts, demolition of derelict buildings (public safety issues)

  6. Groundwater discharge < 5% of the flow 2-3% of the copper 3-4% of the zinc 4100 Level effluent 50-80% of the flow 30-55% of the copper 60-75% of the zinc 2200 Level effluent 20-50% of the flow 45-70% of the copper 25-40% of the zinc Plugthe 2200 Portal Build a Treatment Plant Reclaim pits and waste dumps

  7. Open Pits and Glory Holes

  8. Jane Creek before it drains into Britannia Creek(~November 2001)

  9. A Synergistic Research Plan • UBC had need for a research facility to conduct testwork into the design of bulkheads to seal tunnels • by placing this laboratory at the 2200 level portal of Britannia Mine, two synergistic events occurred: • UBC installed its research lab at a full-scale field site • Britannia Mines and Reclamation Inc. was able to comply with part of its Remediation Order • The most harmful effects of the ARD discharging from Britannia are now mitigated. • Britannia Mine closure plan moved nearer to fulfillment

  10. Cleaning up Britannia Creek • In 2001, BMARC in cooperation with CERM3, constructed a concrete plug in the 2200 Level of Britannia Mine. • This plug diverted water to the lower part of the mine from where it discharges into Howe Sound at 23 m depth. • The concrete plug facilitated construction of the experimental “Millennium Plug” • Essentially all pollution to Britannia Creek and the surface waters of Howe Sound has been eliminated • In 2004, the BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection will put a water treatment plant into operation

  11. UBC/CERM3 Britannia Research Station CERM3 Britannia Beach Research Field Station The Number 3 Mill Building – now an historical heritage site The BC Museum of Mining from above Number 3 Mill Building The Number 3 Mill Building – now an historical heritage site

  12. Installation of Grout Tubes into the Rock Mass around the Concrete Plug

  13. Installation of Grout Tubes into the Rock Mass around the Concrete Plug

  14. Pumping Cement into the Plug Form Cavity – Note the seal around the formwork where it contacts the rock face and the grout tubes used to deliver grout into the rock mass after the concrete has setup.

  15. The Concrete Plug was poured on December 17th in a blinding snow storm over an 18 hour period. A total of 16 cement trucks had to be pulled up to the 2200 Level using front-end loaders and a bulldozer. The effluent was turned off at 3:30 pm on December 31st, 2001.

  16. Results • As of January 1, 2002, acid rock drainage from the 2200 Level tunnel into Jane and Britannia Creek has been halted. • Britannia Creek* before the 2200 Level Plug: • 0.5 mg/l copper, • 0.5 mg/l zinc, • 0.024 mg/l iron, • pH =6.3 • Britannia Creek* after the 2200 Level Plug: • 0.041 mg/l copper, • 0.052 mg/l zinc, • 0.009 mg/l iron, • pH=6.9 * Measurements taken at the Townsite Bridge

  17. Some people like to drink the Britannia Creek water and it is now safe to do so, although like all natural water streams in the wild, it is not recommended without prior chemical treatment.

  18. The Millennium Plug • Built in much the same way as an earth dam • Impervious clay core • Layers of sand, gravel, cobble, rip rap • Resistant to acidic conditions • Cheaper to build • Uses locally available materials • Generates a “walk-away” solution

  19. The Millennium Plug Research Station Quartzite Rock/Sand Concrete Plug Contact Grouting Pressurized Chamber Coffer Dam Bentonite/Sand Seal Sand/Gravel Filters Into the mine Cobble/Rip Rap Throttled Pipeline Pressurized Pipeline Longitudinal Section The ARD effluent is diverted back into the mine workings. The pressurized chamber allows CERM3 researchers to study the Millennium Plug under a variety of pressure and seismic conditions up to 300 m of water head. The service pressure on the concrete plug is only 9 m, but the plug was designed for 300 m in order to conduct the research. Upon completion of the research, the Millennium Plug will be left in place to essentially "back-up" the concrete plug which is expected to fail in 60-70 years through chemical attack by the acidic waters in the mine (pH = 2.5-3.0)

  20. Conclusions • Research can be applied to mitigate existing problems directly if one uses sustainable thinking. • The Millennium Plug Research Station will allow CERM3 to design innovative, inexpensive, walk-away solutions to mine closure problems involving Acid-Rock-Drainage. • Britannia Creek is now free of pollution thanks to the installation of the Millennium Plug Research Station. • CERM3 will continue to search for other synergetic applications while conducting its research and setting up its laboratory infrastructure.

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