Ivanhoe’s Kipushi zinc mine in DRC officially reopens
The restart marked exactly a century since the mine first went into production.
The environmental impact due to the Mount Polley Mine tailing breach is highlighted in red by the geomatics firm Effigis.
The tailings pond dam at the Mount Polley Mine site was breached on BC Day, Aug. 4. An estimated 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of fine sand was released. Hazeltine Creek flows out of Polley Lake and the flow of contaminated water continued into Quesnel Lake.
Environment BC says that during the initial breach of the tailings dam the bulk of the original flow created an unstable plug at the base of Polley Lake. The balance of the tailings and water went down Hazeltine Creek and deposited at the confluence of the creek and river. Hazeltine Creek was originally about 1.2 metres wide and is now up to 150 metres wide.
The image was taken by a Landsat-8 satellite on August 5, 2014, a day after the accident.
Image by Effigis.
Hat tip, Vancouver Miner
2 Comments
klgmac
Given that these are the sort of events that environmentalists pray for, so they can be exploited to their own advantage, it would behoove the industry to make sure they happen as rarely as possible. It’s in their own interest. What is happening to the US coal industry should be a heads up.
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We here in nort America have become experts in not taking responsibility. Don’t worry no politician will be held responsible no mining agent will face any sever penalty. We all talk blah blah blah life goes on an we continue to destroy everything this pathetic species touches!! Congrats Imp Metals..