Abstract

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An Automated GIS Environment for Monitoring Mine Tailings Toxicants
Track: Mining and Geosciences
Author(s): Samuel Ndur, Andrew Kudowor, Andrew Kudowor, Andrew Kudowor

This paper explains a GIS-based mine tailings monitoring model used to assess the potential environmental impacts of toxicants in mine tailings and the sustainability of the tailings dam to contain them. We identify the weakness of conventional methods used and present a more efficient integrated information management environment that is designed specifically for applications dependent on monitoring toxicants in mine tailings. The monitoring of arsenic concentration in the Sansu gold mine tailings dam at Obuasi, Ghana, is detailed. The environment reported here is composed of three main modules: a relational database for storing bore log information of mine tailings, a GIS that displays the geographic locations of study areas and results of GIS analysis, and an easy-to-use customized interface developed for automating most of the GIS procedures implemented. The paper concludes with future extensions to the environment.

Samuel Ndur
New Mexico Tech
Earth and Environmental Science
PO Box 2276
Socorro , NM 87801
US
Phone: 5058355418
Fax: 5058355418
E-mail: sndur@nmt.edu

Andrew Kudowor
Geoinfo Consultants
16807 Village View Trail
Sugarland , TX 77478
US
Phone: 8324285105
E-mail: gis@geoinfoconsultant.com

Andrew Kudowor
Geoinfo Consultants
16807 Village View Trail
Sugarland , TX 77478
US
Phone: 8324285105
E-mail: gis@geoinfoconsultant.com

Andrew Kudowor
Geoinfo Consultants
16807 Village View Trail
Sugarland , TX 77478
US
Phone: 8324285105
E-mail: gis@geoinfoconsultant.com