Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

UNESCO-SEG-SGA Latin American Course
(October 11 - 22, 2010, Concepción, Chile)

"From sustainability of mining to mine waste handling"

The 2010 edition of the UNESCO-SEG-SGA Latin American Course, this year devoted to the topic ""From sustainability of mining to mine waste handling", took place in Concepción, Chile, from 11 to 22 October. Despite the recent earthquake in Concepción (27^th February 2010) that had damaged some infrastructure of the hosting University of Concecpión,  and obliged to limit participation, the course was a great success.

The course was attended by 37 Latin American geologists, mining engineers, chemists, metallurgists, biotechnologists, and ecologists coming from universities, research institutes and Geologic Surveys, mining companies, consultants and postgraduate Students from Argentina (6), Chile (9), Colombia (6), Costa Rica (1), Mexico (1), Peru (13), Uruguay (1). 50 candidates applied for a travel grant. From them, 31 were selected.  Travel expenses of 18 participants were partly supported by KFPE. The fellowships were granted to individuals attached to Universities, Research Centers and Geologic Surveys. Main criteria for the selection were the experience in this new field of sustainability in mining and environment. Publications activity and English knowledge were also important criteria.

Aspects covered included introduction to sustainability of mining (B. Dold, DAAD visiting professor at Concepción), Basic concepts in environmental geochemistry of mine waste management (B. Dold), Introduction to geomicrobiology, and the role of bacteria in mineral formation and mineral dissolution (B. Johnson, University of Wales, UK), a Introduction to thermodynamics in environmental geochemistry (K. Nordstrom, USGS, Boulder, USA), Some characteristics of primary ore (hypogene and supergene) and of supergene enrichment in selected ore deposits  relevant for AMD/sustainable mining (L. Fontboté, University of Geneva, Switzerland), formation of acid mine drainage and prediction methods (B. Dold and L. Weibel, Concepción, Chile), Clay minerals in geometallurgy (U. Kelm, Concepción, Chile), Biomining and bioremediation (Johnson and Dold), Quantitative mineralogy with QEMSCAN® (M. Maltrain), geochemical modeling with PHREEQC (Kirk Nordstrom). Health issues associated to the marine shore tailings deposit at Chañaral (O. Aguirre, SEREMI Atacama, Health Ministry Chile).

At the beginning of the course the participants had chosen a case study a case study to be prepared in five working groups. Through the case study they implemented the concepts of sustainability in mining activities and presented a summary of their work during a workshop at the end of the course.

The theoretical aspects discussed in the course were illustrated in a six day long fieldtrip in northern Chile, where also some fsampling techniques could be shown. After a transfer to Copiapó, the marine shore tailings deposit in the Bay of Chañaral were visited. Representatives of the Ministry of health (SEREMI Atacama) explained the problems posed by these historical tailings and the interactions between the different stakeholders. In the afternoon the heap-leach operation of ENAMI at El Salado for oxide ores was visited. After a night bus travel to Calama, CODELCO offered a visit to the three open pit mines of Radomiro Tomic, Chuquicamata and Mina Sur (Exótica), in order to get a complete image of the whole porphyry copper system with special focus on supergene and exotic processes. The visit was completed on the next day by a complete overview of the metallurgical process, including crushing, milling, flotation, smelter, tailings disposal, and bioleach operation of low-grade sulfide ores of these world class deposits. The fifth day the participants had the chance to visit the lithium mine of SQM in the Salar de Atacama and the nearby National Park for Andean Flamencos as an example of endangered ecosystem. The last day started early in the morning to travel to the El Tatio hydrothermal field A comparison of its geochemistry with that of the fields in Yellowstone was presented by Kirk Nordstrom. After some arsenic resistant participants took a bath in the natural hot ponds, the trip finished at the airport of Calama.

Written evaluation of the course were very positive. The feeling of the instructors was also excellent, as they expressed their pleasure to teach such an interested and motivated group.  The course was supported by KFPE, SEG, SGA, UNESCO, DAAD, CODELCO, GEA and University of Concepción. Further information on this and past editions of the course can be obtained from the web page http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/mineral/seminars/latinometal.html

Contacts:

Prof. Lluís Fontboté
Earth and Environtmental Sciences
University of Geneva
Switzerland
http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre

Participants of the UNESCO-SEG-SGA Latin American Course (October 11 - 22, 2010, Concepción, Chile)

Participants working on the presentation of the case study.

Supergene enrichment in the Radomiro Tomi mine (CODELCO Norte)