Innovative Mine Reclamation – A Strategic Approach

Mount Milligan has taken a comprehensive initiative to explore innovative reclamation strategies, focusing on two key projects: the Tailings Trials Program and the Proof-of-Concept Reclamation Trials Program. The common thread in these initiatives is Centerra’s commitment to enhancing vegetation establishment and ecological restoration. Both projects highlight Mount Milligan’s dedication to advancing reclamation strategies, bridging the gap between research and practical application for long-term ecological restoration and sustainability.

Tailings Trials Program – Mount Milligan takes a phased approach to examining the efficacy of planting vegetation directly on scavenger tailings surfaces. Due to constraints in establishing trials within the TSF, the project incorporates both greenhouse and field trials. In 2023, Phase 1 was completed at the University of Northern British Columbia’s Enhanced Forestry Laboratory where external consultants looked at the survival and growth of different plant species and the impact of soil amendments on germination and growth. The trial results will inform Phase 2, which will expand plant species selection and amendments.

Proof-of-Concept Reclamation Trials Program – During the summer, Mount Milligan conducted field studies comparing the performances of five treatment units in the “living lab” Proof-of-Concept reclamation trials. Monitoring focused on the impacts of reclamation techniques on soil, vegetation, wildlife usage and the survival of planted seedlings. As well, historically reclaimed areas and reference sites were selected to track the development of reclamation units and associated ecological trajectories, aligning with community profiles of mature forest endpoints. This monitoring is part of long-term field trials needed to establish correlations between specific restoration methods and the establishment of successful vegetation.