Contaminant transport from proposed Jabiluka mine uranium tailings paste repositories - 10 000 year dispersion and dilution analysis

Abstract

This paper describes the extension of a hybrid numerical/analytical modelling investigation of the possible movement of potential contaminants from tailings repositories towards wetlands adjoining the Jabiluka uranium mining lease in northern Australia. Predictions extending to 10 000 years were requested by a UNESCO scientific committee investigating claims that mining would endanger Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Area that surrounds the lease. Because of the uncertainty in the model parameters, a Monte Carlo approach was used to generate a large number of possible concentration profiles for radium. An additional regional model was employed to predict the ultimate fate of uranium.