ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY OF MINE WASTE AND MINE WATERS:
IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCE RECOVERY
PhD. ROBERT R. SEAL
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
The environmental geochemistry of solid mine waste and mine waters is essential for identifying environmental risks to both human health and ecosystem health at abandoned, active, and proposed mine sites. It is also important for designing effective environmental management plans. A clear understanding of the economic geology of a mine site makes the risk assessment process more efficient and effective. The high cost of environmental managment and the global need for critical minerals require that we seek value of traditional mine waste sources.
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MSc. ROBERT R. SEAL
Robert earned his Bachelor of science from Virginia Tech University, his Master of Science from Queen’s University, Canada, and his PhD from the University of Michigan, all in geological sciences. He is a senior research geologist/geochemist for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Virginia, where his career focuses on various environmental aspects of mining. He investigates the impact of mining waste on surface and groundwater, sediment, soil, and biota through laboratory and field studies. His work as a technical advisor to the USEPA, where he has been involved in various aspects of remediation investigations, baseline studies, and ecological risk assessments. Most recently, his research is emphasizes the potential to extract resources from waste at active mines and abandoned during remediation. Robert has published over 100 reports in scientific journals as author and co-author, as well as being associate editor or guest editor for several scientific journals. He has experience providing training, workshops and short courses in environmental geochemistry at different universities, professional societies, and government agencies around the world.
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