This project is a critical review and evaluation of ultraviolet oxidation process alternatives for cyanide destruction with the goal of developing a prototype solar powered mobile treatment system. Currently, much gold extraction in the region uses mercury, a dangerous and environmentally damaging substance. Cyanide is a potential alternative for extraction, but it must be contained and managed, and a portable, destructive treatment system could eventually lead to dramatically improved worker safety and environmental protection. Specific project tasks include:

• Review of the cyanide oxidation literature
• Identify required operation conditions and develop performance criteria
• Bench-scale optimization on synthetic cyanide solutions at Mines and UNSA laboratories
• Design and construction of mobile prototype
• Testing of mobile prototype on real gold mining effluents

The Majes and Sam Camilo areas present a dynamic research area where irrigation, water quality, and slope stability and erosion issues are complexly intertwined. The project goals are to understand these linkages and provide tools to better manage the resulting problems in the area:

• Characterize the hydrology, hydrogeology, and water quality of Majes and San Camilo with a focus on systems related to seeps and irrigation return flow.
• Select and design an appropriate pilot scale water treatment system based on water quality in the study areas and discussions with UNSA faculty regarding desired uses.
• Geological and geophysical investigations to understand the geology and groundwater in Majes and San Camilo.
• Analysis, sensitivity, and monitoring of landslides in Majes and San Camilo.
• Development and implementation of a low-cost photogrammetric system for 3-D deformation monitoring

Mine tailings volumes are rapidly increasing as extraction processes allow economic production of increasingly low ore grades. While the current approaches focus on storage of tailings, alternative uses can be a great benefit to both the mining industries and the communities surrounding the mines. This project provides an initial assessment of the reuse of mine tailings for new sustainable construction materials and as a source of new mineral value. Specific tasks include:

• Characterize mine tailings and develop a database of key properties and features
• Evaluate options for mine tailings reuse and identify applicable practices
• Evaluate feasibility based on the properties of mine tailings and newly produced materials

Mining activities can impact water quality through the mobilization of metals and metalloid compounds, potentially resulting in strong environmental impacts. This project is intended to research potential technologies for treating impacts water through the following tasks:

• Geochemically-informed methods and analyses to better understand treatment potential and immobilization mechanisms
• Test metal and metalloid immobilization from water using engineered, passive treatment wetlands
• Test metal and metalloid removal efficiency of field-deployable actively managed membrane-based technologies
• Identify mechanisms, barriers and incentives for adoption by stakeholders (i.e. ASM communities, nonprofits, university or government entities).

UNSA intends to develop a new State-of-the-Art research Center to house facilities for advanced research and education in a) enhanced exploration, sensing, and treatment techniques for mining, b) new technologies and processes to improve mine safety and productivity of formal and informal mining operations, c) provide a comprehensive data resource for making data from research projects accessible (e.g., on-line) to researchers, and to students and teachers across Peru for educational purposes, d) collaborate with people involved in informal and formal mining operations in Peru to participate in research and educational activities, and e) instill a culture of innovation in the mining industry that will attract the workforce of the future. Specific advising and consulting tasks include:

• To define indoor laboratory requirements (space/utilities/equipment) with the design integrated to serve the needs of all UNSA-Mines research projects, and complete the preliminary design for the installation
• To define outdoor laboratory needs (space/utilities/equipment)
• To define the technology resources necessary for the planned research projects, including IT needs for software and hardware

Mining operations are often affected by geohazards such as landslides, debris flows, rockfall, or accelerated erosion. In some cases, the operations accelerate these processes or initiate them. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing tools such as satellite data can be used to both map these hazards and to identify areas with higher risk. In this project, we will use these tools to develop mapping procedures and risk assessment and management that can be calibrated at our project locations and then used in a more automated fashion at other locations. Tasks include:

• GIS and remote-sensing based susceptibility, hazard and risk zonation for anticipated mass wasting types (landslides, debris flows, rockfall, etc.) for several identified formal and informal sites.
• Identification of data sources and construction of a geospatial infrastructure
• Field analysis for distinguishing landslide controlling factors and hillside responses between formal and informal mining.
• Analysis of triggers from natural (rainfall, erosion, earthquake, etc.) and human activity (irrigation, infrastructure construction, land-use land-cover changes, etc.) for effective mitigation of risks.
• Analysis of communities’ perceptions of risk.
• Identification of effective planning and mitigation practices, matching these practices to a range of likely (and observed) scenarios for both formal and informal mining, development of strategies to encourage adoption and implementation, and integration of community perceptions and sensitivities to hazards and the need for risk.

This project will provide a comprehensive assessment of the geology and geometallurgy of small-scale mine sites in Arequipa, which can be used to develop a predictive framework for mineral exploration, mining techniques, mineral processing and environmental reclamation. Tasks include:

1. Characterization of site mineralogy and geochemistry, using an integration of field mapping, field- and regional-scale hyperspectral imaging, and in-field or lab-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as automated mineralogy.
2. Characterization of geometallurgy of the ores, using data from Objectives 1-2, as well as field mapping, sampling, and mineralogical and metallurgical field and laboratory methods.
3. Development of models that predict metallogeny, geometallurgy, geo-environmental

Small-scale mines face different challenges than larger underground mines, both because of the relative lack of physical, financial, and knowledge-based resources available to local miners and the unique geotechnical conditions that exist. For example, existing systems for relative hazard classification (rockmass classification) may not be applicable. This project will develop data collection protocols to develop rockmass classification databases as well as hazard identification guidelines for small-scale miners based on in-situ data collection and numerical sensitivity analyses. Specifically, we will:

1. Provide rock mechanics / ground control training to interested UNSA personnel; integrate UNSA scientists into project research
2. Compile, collect, and analyze data on rockmass behavior and groundfall hazards in small-scale mines
3. Develop numerical models to assess critical factors controlling small-scale mine stability; associated development of groundfall hazard identification guidelines for small-scale miners

In Artisinal and Small-Scale Mining there is no infrastructure dedicated to health and safety of miners. Unsafe and unhealthy mining practices are unsustainable and damaging not only to the affected miners and their families, but also to the economy. This project will design and implement interventions to improve mine ventilation and environmental conditions to control gas, heat and dust for underground ASM to significantly improve the health and safety of miners. Project tasks include:

1. Assess the needs of ASM to improve ventilation and dust control in collaboration with local groups
2. Build a database of ventilation conditions, environment, safety and health of ASM
3. Identify the appropriate technology to control ventilation, control of heat and dust
4. With local support, develop interventions and safety training for miners to selected mines
5. Review and monitor progress through the local leadership and a cycle of continuous improvement