Mine closure normally means an end to productivity, but the start of a long process of clean up and management of its legacy. One particular issue relates to the perpetual flow of water from mines, which can often be highly polluting due to its dissolved metal content. Dealing with this mine water involves substantial expense at a time when mines are no longer operational; but what if costs could be recovered in other ways? My research considers the technical feasibility of recovering resources from abandoned mines, in particular where low-cost passive treatment systems have been installed to deal with polluting waters.

Force Crag Mine, Cumbria (Abandoned Pb-Zn mine)