Description of a Field Experiment To Measure Leachate Formation From Oil Shale Wastes

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental program that measured the formation of leachate from wastes expected from a mining operation on the Rundle oil shale resource in north-eastern Australia. The experiment, located in a remote situation at the proposed disposal site, consisted of eight lysimeters, a weather station and instruments to monitor the processes occurring within the lysimeters. The paper also presents measurements of meteorological processes and moisture movement observed within the waste materials. The information obtained was used in the development of a predictive mathematical model to explain leachate formation and movement (to be presented elsewhere).