Thermal-Hydrological-Chemical Modeling of a Covered Waste Rock Pile in a Permafrost Region

In order to reduce contaminant mass loadings, thermal cover systems may be incorporated in the design of waste rock piles located regions continuous permafrost. this study, reactive transport modeling was used improve understanding coupled thermo-hydrological and chemical processes controlling evolution a covered pile Northern Canada. Material properties from previous field laboratory tests were into model constrain simulations. Good agreement between simulated observational temperature data indicates that is capable capturing occurring within pile. Simulations also useful for forecasting pile’s long-term with an emphasis on water flow heat mechanisms, but including geochemical weathering sulfate loadings as indicator release contaminated drainage. An uncertainty analysis carried out address different scenarios cover’s performance function applied infiltration rate, accounting impacts evaporation, runoff, snow ablation. The results indicate insensitive magnitude recharge rates, except limited changes regime shallow active layer. expanded by performing additional sensitivity assess role thicknesses. reveal appropriate thickness can effectively minimize drainage maintaining layer completely cover.