Evaluation methods for the consequences of below water table mine disposal of uranium mill tailings

A method has been developed at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to evaluate the environmental consequences of below water table disposal of uranium mill tailings in mine stopes. The method described uses analytical expressions for the velocity potential and examines the convective transport of tailings liquor and leachate through the aquifer and into a water supply well located downgradient from the mine stope. The arrival distribution of contaminant (mass flux versus time) and the concentration pumped from the well as a function of time are the final results of the analysis. 8 references, 21 figures