You can teach an old mine new tricks

In this edition of The Naked Scientists, teaching an old mine new tricks: how old mines are being repurposed in the name of science... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists (www.thenakedsc...)

[@SeanBZA]

SA legacy mines the biggest thing was to recover sulphuric acid, copper and silver from those heaps, which paid for the processing. The gold and uranium was a bonus, along with platinum group metals. As well the waste was used to fill in the old workings, getting rid of both the heap above the ground, and filling in the hole that was in danger of collapse as well. then the old heap was gone, the ground was more stable, and the land was sold off to make new residential areas.
I remember those old mine heaps along the roads from decades ago, now almost totally gone, replaced with shopping malls, industrial sites and brand new suburbs. Less dust blowing off the heaps as well, so better air quality as well.