Verification of the Vertical Distribution of Dust From Mining Activities

Advanced Environmental Dynamics has undertaken a two year project involving a significant field campaign complemented by a dust dispersion model validation component. The primary objective of this project was to give both the mining industry and regulators increased confidence in the results produced by dust dispersion models by validating and improving the methodology applied to open cut mining operations.

The 12 month field campaign undertaken at BMA Caval Ridge Mine in the Bowen Basin, involved the instrumentation of a 30 metre tower with dust and meteorological sensors at four heights. Results of the field study have highlighted the lack of vertical structure except in association with the development of a temperature inversion.

Results from the dispersion modelling have highlighted the adopted form of the initial source characteristics as opposed to the choice of technical option for calculating vertical dispersion within the model as resulting in improved model performance.