Geochemistry Careers with SRK
Drainage water quality is a critical concern for all mining and non-mining rock handling operations. Discharges must meet stringent local, regional, and national standards to avoid environmental damage.
Geochemists help manage mine drainage water quality and develop cost-effective solutions to issues that range from severe acidity to unusual trace elements. The focus is on addressing drainage chemistry at all stages of the mining cycle. Acid rock drainage (ARD) remains the most significant issue due to the high concentrations of metals and the costs of effective treatment, although leaching under non-acidic conditions is also an issue. The cornerstone of the geochemist’s approach is that geological conditions control ARD. Geochemists work collaboratively with geologists to understand how site geology affects drainage chemistry, and how the geology can limit potential impacts and engineering costs.
Some of the services we provide are waste characterization, evaluation of acid rock drainage potential, field assessments and monitoring, instruments to monitor poregas and porewater at waste rock dumps and tailings, water quality
modeling, site-wide contaminant load balances, water treatment evaluations, cyanide geochemistry, waste treatment assessment for mine closure requirements, and expert witness testimony.
