Distinctly Montana Magazine

Barrick's Golden Sunlight Mine has dedicated itself to a high degree of environmental protection and concurrent reclamation beyond the current industry standard. (containing cyanide) was released into the soil. This On a casual drive past Butte, Montana, one can obdid not turn out to be quite a "disaster" as total conserve how little our forebears cared for the eco-systems tainment of the spill was established through a series they mined in and around. Entire mountains were of groundwater capture wells which are still being ripped and stripped leaving ugly scars, depleted soils, monitored today. The original tailings impoundment and poisoned ground-water, along with the destruction was de-commissioned and fully reclaimed. The current of native biological habitats. Although today miners impoundment is fully contained with a heavy synare aided by advanced technology and have a greater thetic liner to prevent future leaks. awareness of their impact, the gold mining process Although this cyanide solution degrades at a poses the same threats to our environment. It should relatively rapid pace, it is extremely toxic be obvious to the earth-conscious reader and has been the agent of other enthat any human threat to the environFor their vironmental disasters in the past. ment is a threat upon humanity itself. For this, Barrick's takes massive Barrick's Golden Sunlight Mine reclamation precaution in managing their has dedicated itself to a high tailings impoundment where-in degree of environmental protecefforts, the sunlight can breakdown tion and concurrent reclamation Barrick has won the cyanide. GSM destroys 99% beyond the current industry of the cyanide before it ever standard. Key areas of focus in several major leaves the mill. Dual drainage this effort are: waste managepipes running from the mill ment, air & water control, and awards from both are backed-up with a spare the enhancement of wildlife industry route in-case of emergency habitats. and there are mechanisms to Proper management of waste is and government relieve the pressure on the pipes one of the most critical enviorganizations. as the cyanide solution travels ronmental concerns of the gold down to the pad. Heavy black extraction process. For example, liners extend well beyond the "waste rock" that has been water-line on the impoundment moved aside to get through to to completely protect the soil the ore and "tailings" which are beneath it and emergency drainage the rock remnants left over after basins have been dug out further extraction—both contain trace downhill. metals that risk water pollution if Air pollution comes mainly in the form not given proper transport, storage and of dust kicked up from all the trucks, handling. excavators, crushers and conveyor Also there is chemical waste—cyanide is used in 90% of gold production worldwide. In 1982 at what is now The Golden Sunlight Mine, long before modern environmental standards were in place, there was a fault in the tailings impoundment facility and about nine million gallons of the process solution 40 D I ST I NCT LY M ONTANA • FALL 2013

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