Reclamation of the Lower Williams Lake tailings area of Denison Mines Limited

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 803, 1979

D. MURRAY, Agronomist, Elliot Lake Laboratory, Mining Research Laboratories, CANMET, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Elliot Lake, Ontario, R. WEBBER, Metallurgist, and E. LAROCQUE, Chief Metallurgist, Denison Mines Limited, Elliot Lake, Ontario

A 2-hectare uranium tailings area has been reclaimed. The exposed tailings of 1.4 hectares were capped with glacial till and vegetated with grasses and legumes. The water running through the tailings was diverted around the tailings in a line ditch and treated with sodium hydroxide and barium chloride. Difficulties occurred in placing the till capping because of the low bearing strength and the uneven surface of the tailings. This led to varying thicknesses of till and the need for manual labour in some areas. Total reclamation costs were $32,200, with vegetation establishment costs at $13,700 per hectare. This report provides a record of work for use in assessing the long-term suitability of these treatments.

Keywords: Reclamation, Vegetation, Tailings, Soils, Elliot Lake, Uranium, Denison Mines Ltd., Williams Lake, Environmental control.