ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Open Cut

Aquaculture as a Relinquishment Option for Final Voids

Open Cut » Environment

Published: May 03Project Number: C9027

Get ReportAuthor: Glen Whisson, Louis Evans | Curtin University of Technology

Relinquishment of final mining voids is a significant issue for coal mining companies. The cost of rehabilitating mine voids to land fill and re-establishment of pre-existing terrestrial habitats is prohibitive and not considered to be a viable commercial option by most coal mining companies.

Following closure, mine voids gradually fill through seepage from ground water sources and surface runoff to create mine lakes. Mine lakes represent a potential water resource for a range of community and commercial activities. This project aimed to establish a demonstration system to evaluate aquaculture using treated mine lake water as a beneficial end use for final mining voids.

Six aquaculture ponds, a water remediation system (settling pond, macrophyte pond, and compost pond) and an integrated water treatment system incorporating an anoxic limestone drain and an algal tank were constructed. Water was pumped from a submersible pump mounted on a pontoon anchored in the void through the algal tank, the anoxic limestone drain, the macrophyte pond and the compost pond before being stored in the settling pond and then passed through separate water intakes into each of the aquaculture ponds. Each pond had an outlet that led into a drain and delivered effluent water back into the void.

Two different treatment systems were evaluated - an anoxic limestone drain with as associated algal treatment tank (ALD system) and a fluidised limestone bed system (FLB system). Successful amelioration of pH from the mine lake water (pH 2.8 to 4.2) to pH>6.0 was initially achieved with the ALD system but the outlet pH levels subsequently declined. An alternative method of limestone treatment utilising a fluidised bed technology, was therefore explored. The results were encouraging and further prototypes were constructed and evaluated as part of a new research project funded through the Centre for Sustainable Mine Lakes.

A demonstration aquaculture project was conducted in the culture ponds to examine density effects on polyculture production. Marron and silver perch were stocked in three treatment groups: marron monoculture, low density polyculture (marron plus 100 caged perch), and medium density polyculture (marron plus 200 caged perch). Each treatment was allocated to two ponds and survival, growth and polyculture production were evaluated over 200 days. Pond yields were significantly higher in polyculture than monoculture, with net biomass increase highest in polyculture ponds with 200 perch/cage. While the need for research into higher, commercial densities is evident, the trial successfully demonstrated the potential of crayfish polyculture as a beneficial end use for coal mining lakes in Southern Western Australia.

A bio-economic model was developed containing three major components - the biological factors, technical components and economic factors. The results of the polyculture trial were used in developing the combined biological/technical component of the model. The base model showed that for the biological indices used in the polyculture trial, gross margin for a typical year in a 20 year period is negative (-$71,784). However, the second model constructed using commercial stocking rates gave negative gross margins for years 1 and 2 and a positive gross margin of $98,275 in year 3. A cash flow analysis conducted over a 20-year period at a discount rate of 7% showed an internal rate of return of 16.9% and a benefit cost ratio of 1.27. All these financial indices indicated a favourable outcome. However, further studies are required to validate the findings of this study in specific relationship to mine lake aquaculture.

Desktop studies of the feasibility of mine lake aquaculture at Moura and another site in the Hunter Valley were undertaken. The study was based on site visits and examination of existing water quality data provided by mining companies. Studies of reports on fish fauna in existing mine lakes indicated that some lakes would be suitable for commercial aquaculture and/or recreational fish stocking. The need for monitoring of seasonal changes in environmental conditions and for examination of water samples for the presence of heavy metals or other pollutants was highlighted.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC