Managing the Risk of Mine Sulphate Discharge to Downstream Ecosystems

The discharge of mine water containing sulphate may pose potential ecological risk to receiving waters. In this paper, we demonstrated the application of a risk-based approach to managing sulphate discharge using a coal mine in the Bowen Basin (Australia) as a case study. This approach integrates information on sulphate concentration and its ecological impact to quantify the risk and evaluate the effectiveness of different scenarios in mitigating the risk. Findings in this study contribute a possible framework applicable to managing not only sulphate, but also other substances of potential concern in the mining industry, such as selenium and mercury.