Long-Term Remediation of the Savage River Mine Using Local Neutralising Waste Rock and Novel Flow-Through Waste Storage Facilities
Date
2026
Authors
Gerson, A.R.
Kent, S.
Hutchison, B.
Ray, D.
Smart, R.S.C.
Ferguson, T.
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Journal article
Citation
Mine Water and the Environment, 2026; 1-18
Statement of Responsibility
Andrea R. Gerson, Stephen Kent, Bruce Hutchison, Daniel Ray, Roger St.C. Smart, Tony Ferguson
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Abstract
In 1995, a 30-km stretch of Savage River downstream of the Savage River Mine in northwest Tasmania was found to have lost 90% of its invertebrate diversity and 99% of its invertebrate abundance. In 1997, the Tasmanian Government reached a settlement that assigned a cost of AU$24 million for the remediation of pollution arising from the first 30 years of operations, allowing the new owner to acquire the site and mining assets. In 1998, Cu concentrations in the Savage River were ≈ 60 µg L−¹. Extensive remediation followed, involving use of local neutralising waste rock and novel construction methodologies utilizing flow-through systems for waste rock dumps and tailings impoundments. The systematic identification and remediation of metalliferous drainage that had previously drained into local waterways and ultimately the Savage River has also been undertaken. In 2001, key water quality markers for aqueous Ca and Cu concentrations were defined based on biotic surveys for fish and a sensitive macroinvertebrate (Ceriodaphnia). The last Cu exceedance, using site-specific water quality criteria, for fish in waters with a Ca concentration < 20 mg L−¹ and for Ceriodaphnia, was in December 2013. The last Cu exceedance for fish in waters with a Ca concentration > 20 mg L−¹ was August 2016. The decrease in Cu concentration has been accompanied by a decrease in Ni, Co, and Zn concentrations and increases in alkalinity, and invertebrate diversity and abundance. After 2016, water quality has consistently met the defined targets. The concentration of Cu post-2023 in Savage River has been < 10 µg L−¹. The pH in Main Creek, just upstream of the Savage River confluence and downstream of the mine facilities, rose from 5.7 to 7.5 from 2009 to 2015 and has remained stable, with an average annual pH of 7.3 for 2023. The pH of the Savage River has remained unchanged at 7−8.
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Dissertation Note
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OnlinePubl
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© The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Mine Water Association 2026.