2000 Billings Land Reclamation Symposium MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF REMEDIATION MEASURES AT THE ZORTMAN/LANDUSKY MINE SITES.

Reclamation of the Zortman and Landusky gold mines in the Little Rocky Mountains of north-central Montana is currently being undertaken under the direction of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and using the funds from the Reclamation Bond. As with many projects a balance must be found between the economics, technical, environmental and socio-economic issues at the sites. As part of the reclamation effort, a geochemical characterization program was developed which involved an intensive field geochemical assessment, supported by laboratory test work and ‘historic’ data. The objective of the characterization program was two-fold. Firstly, to identify the location, extent and probable contaminant loads from the sites; and secondly, to identify candidate materials for suitable cover and remediation purposes. Prioritization of remediation measures was then completed in an effort to assess and optimize the degree of remediation attainable with the limited financial resources available. This paper describes the material characterization program. It also describes the method and rationale developed to prioritize the remediation measures. Additional