Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center
Development of Mineral Environmental Assessment Methodologies
Task 2 - Development of Mineral Environmental Assessment Techniques at the Watershed Scale
Development of Expert System Models -- subtask 2.9
Subtask Objectives
Mining activities pose uncertain space- and time-dependent hazards. Examples of
uncertain mining hazards can include deteriorating infrastructure, engineering and
environmental failures, and waste rock and tailings piles. The possibility of harm from
uncertain mining-related hazards that lead to personal damage is called risk. Examples of
mining-related risk can include the likelihood of damage to property and/or health (human
and/or ecological). Whereas about 90% of all mining liabilities are associated with waste
rock, tailings, and mine water management, there are several deficiencies in their
assessment. First, their currently is no consistent framework to forecast and/or evaluate
scale-and time-dependent mining hazards (present or future) and their risks. Second, there
is a need by scientists to improve spatial and temporal risk analysis by incorporating
relevant model predictions and their uncertainty.
In many cases, however, there are no relevant numerical models. Even where numerical
models exist, the success to provide reliable estimates and predictions depends on the
ability to couple disparate numerical models and perform appropriate calibration and
validation. Because field models have elements that are complex and unpredictable, and are
calibrated using limited field measurements, traditional validation methods are weak and
predictions uncertain. Methods must be developed and applied for quantitative evaluation
and assessment of uncertainty in the mineral environmental assessment process.
The goal of this Subtask is to develop methodologies to evaluate the environmental effects of mining strategic deposits
using prescribed methods in various geologic terrains and hydrologic landscapes.
Statement of Work
- Develop and test a methodology for understanding the likely effects of future mining on
metal toxicity to biological receptor (endpoint).
- Conduct inverse reactive transport modeling to evaluate the significance of climate and
hydrology in the formation of natural acid-rock drainage in mineralized watersheds.
Products
Abstracts
- Johnson, R.H., and Friedel, M.J., 2008, Factoring Uncertainty into
Restoration Modeling of In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines, 330-8, Hydrogeology III - Uranium,
Metals, and Other Contaminants.
Presentations
- Friedel, M. J., 2011, Climate change effects on ecosystem
services in the United States – issues of national and global security, In: Baba, A., Tayfur, G., Gündüz, O., Howard, K.W.F., Friedel, M.J., and Chambel,
A., eds., Climate
change and its effect on water supplies - Issues of National and Global Security, NATO
Science for Peace and Security Series, C. Environmental Security – vol. 3, 17-24, Springer, Dordrecht, The
Netherlands, p. 17-24.
- Friedel, M.J., 2008, Mineral Environmental Assessment
Workshop, Denver,Colorado, April 23, 2008.
- Johnson, R.H., Manning, A.H., and Friedel, M.J., 2009,
Evaluating the Utility of Watershed-Scale Numerical Models in the U.S. Geological
Survey's Mineral, Environmental Assessment Project, Toward More Effective Use of
Ground Water Modeling II: Improved Conceptual Models and Data Integration, Ground
Water Summit: The Science and Engineering Conference, April 21, 2009, Tucson, AZ.
- Johnson, R.H., and Friedel, M.J., 2008, Factoring Uncertainty into
Restoration Modeling of In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines, 330-8, Hydrogeology III - Uranium,
Metals, and Other Contaminants in Groundwater, Geological Survey of America, 2008 Joint
Annual Meeting, Oct. 5-9, 2008.
Reports
- Friedel, M.J., and Tindall, J.A., 2008, Reconnaissance study of water quality in the mining-affected Aries River basin, Romania: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 2008-1176, 36 p.
- Friedel, M.J., and Linard, J.I., 2008, Initial sediment transport model of
the mining-affected Aries River basin, Romania: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 2008-1171, 23 p.
- Johnson, R.H., and Friedel, M.J., 2009, Factoring uncertainty into
restoration modeling of in-situ leach uranium mines: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1024, 25 p.
Workshops
- Friedel, M.J., 2010, Advanced groundwater modeling - calibration
and uncertainty analysis: Workshop presentation to scientists of Groundwater Economy
Problems, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, Oct. 18-22, 2010.
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