TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Assay evaluations and tests of process water discharge from a storage cell within the tailings management facility (TMF) at Quebec-focused project developer Canada Lithium’s Quebec Lithium project, near Val d'Or, have confirmed all metal levels were within acceptable levels of discharge into the environment.
The company on Wednesday said discharge-water samples containing suspended solids, which were above normal levels, were also tested for potential toxicity to fish populations, specifically rainbow trout, and those tests also proved negative.
Canada Lithium last week reported that it had notified the Québec Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement de la Faune et des Parcs (MDDEFP) of the water discharge from a cell in its TMF, and the MDDEFP's preliminary assessment indicated that about 50 000 m3 of water were released. The company was allowed to carry on with the commissioning of its lithium carbonate processing plant and its use of the remaining tailings cell.
The initial evaluation of the source of the leak has identified a 50-cm-long tear along the southern wall of the geo-membrane. Specialists from Golder Associates, the geotechnical consultant for the TMF, and personnel from the MDDEFP had been on-site to inspect the tear and Golder personnel were to remain on-site as remediation efforts began.
Canada Lithium would also provide a remedial action plan to the MDDEFP.
The company said it was currently installing a water treatment system to insure that, while repairs were under way, water accumulations from melting ice and snow in the pond would be filtered for suspended solids.
No delay in commissioning or increase in capital costs was expected.