The Declaration of Environmental Factors for the operation of a Field Leach Trial at Honeymoon, as prepared by Southern Cross Resources, is pitiful and woeful. It borders on professional incompetence and malpractice. A typed up critique coming soon (the hand written version is done)!

by using available geochemical models (eg - PHREEQC by Parkhurst, 1996), it can be demonstrated that the chemistry presented in the DEF will increase the potential for precipitation of gypsum and other minerals;

although potassium concentrations are not included in the given water chemistry, by assuming a range of values to input to PHREEQC, it can be demonstrated that jarosite precipitation will remain a significant problem;

appears deliberately ambiguous concerning earlier work and avoids the issue of jarosite precipitation;

inadequate characterisation of the hydrogeology, with contradictions in the DEF concerning the hydraulic connections between the three aquifers noted;

misrepresents the reasons behind the 1983 SA government decision to refuse further approvals for the project;

concentrations of potentially toxic heavy metals are ignored, such as selenium, lead, cadmium, and others;

is dismissive of radiation concerns, especially radon emanation from leaching solutions;

problems with the complexity geology have been noted, especially since the fourth 5-spot pattern drilled for the pilot plant was not completed due to intersection of lower permeability clays and silts and little or no uranium mineralisation, yet such problems remain unresolved;

problems of silt building up in the bottom of bores and potential screen blockages are ignored;

no restoration of groundwater quality will be undertaken.

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References :
Based on Section 6.3 of Mudd, 1998.

Page last updated August 1, 1998.

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