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Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (AMD) is a major environmental risk that should be regularly assessed at all new and existing iron ore mine sites. AMD can often be reduced or prevented by appropriate mine plans but where not managed properly, can lead to costly collection and treatment programs that must function for many decades. This is particularly evident at many historical and abandoned mine sites where the AMD was not identified prior to mining. Whilst the release of acidity alone can have major impacts, the dissolution of metals (such as iron, aluminium, manganese, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic and mercury) from surrounding country rock can also have significant downstream impacts on the environment. The water quality may impact on human health and thus increase public and regulatory focus and concern. Ultimately the ‘social licence to operate’ may be at risk. Metalliferous drainage typically requires, at a minimum, low-pH conditions on a microscopic scale as a mechanism to initially solubilise contaminants. If the sulfide-bearing rock also has sufficient neutralising capacity, the acid generated is subsequently neutralised. However despite neutralisation, concentrations of some contaminants do not precipitate at near-neutral pH (ie. zinc, arsenic, nickel, and cadmium). Instead these contaminants remain in solution resulting in low-quality drainage. In cases where there has been sufficient neutralisation to remove all metals the water can still have elevated concentrations of sulfate resulting in elevated salinity. It is therefore important to adequately geochemically assess all material at a mine site to ensure that all aspects of AMD risk are considered. A crucial step in leading practice management of AMD is to assess the environmental, human health, commercial and reputation risks as early as possible (CoA 2007). Reactive mineral waste can cause harm by: degrading water quality causing human health or ecological impacts; inhibiting vegetation establishment, posing a direct exposure risk to animals and humans; and degrading air quality through dust or gas emissions. Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) have developed standards, strategies, procedures, management plans and guidance notes that can be used to assess AMD risk for mine sites. This paper summarises how these documents have been integrated and how site specific information is assessed for AMD risk at Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore (RTIO) mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Guidance for conducting ecological risk assessments

Geochemical Risk Assessment Process for Rio Tinto’s Pilbara Iron Ore Mines