Field Trips
Field Trips
ICARD 2024 promises an exciting post-technical program experience with captivating field trips scheduled for the day after the conference.
The field trip organizer can cancel the tour if the minimum number of participants is not reached one month prior to the departure.
EAST KEMPTVILLE MINE - OVERNIGHT TOUR
Departure: Friday, September 20
Return: Saturday, September 21
Minimum of participants: 15
Maximum of participants: 30
Fee: $900
Description
Please join us for this picturesque journey to southwest Nova Scotia! We’ll begin the first day of our adventure with lunch at a charming winery in the Annapolis Valley, savoring the finest local flavors and wines. Following this, we’ll check-in at the luxurious Digby Pines Resort and Spa to enjoy relaxation, comfort, and another delicious meal featuring locally sourced Nova Scotia ingredients. As the sun rises the next morning, we’ll set out on a 1.5-hour drive from the resort to East Kemptville and will have a unique opportunity to tour this former mine site, which was once the largest primary tin mine in North America. The East Kemptville Mine closed in 1992 but has since been carefully reclaimed to minimize risks to local communities and the environment. We will explore the water treatment facility, holding ponds, waste rock storage piles, and the tailings management facility, each showcasing the intersection of technology and environmental responsibility. The tour, estimated to take 2-3 hours, will provide all participants with a detailed overview of the meticulous reclamation process and best practices for long-term mine waste management. Early that evening, we will enjoy another delectable dinner in the charming town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before returning to downtown Halifax.
SYDNEY COALFIELDS - OVERNIGHT TOUR
Departure: Friday, September 20
Return: Saturday, September 21
Minimum of participants: 15
Maximum of participants: 30
Fee: $900
Description
Embark on a fascinating exploration of Cape Breton Island with the Sydney Coalfields tour. Located just a scenic 5 hour drive from Halifax, this excursion delves into the world of reclamation efforts in the coal mining industry and offers a unique opportunity to witness reclaimed coal mining and processing sites. The Sydney Coalfield has a long legacy of coal mining which ended in 2001 and has left a complex and extensive network of shuttered underground workings.
At the heart of the Sydney Coalfields, the New Victoria Treatment Plant showcases a cutting-edge approach to water treatment and reclamation. Demonstrating the industry’s commitment to sustainability, this facility utilizes advance techniques for managing the environmental impact of mining activities. This active treatment plant is a High Density Sludge (HDS) system that utilizes hydrated lime to reduce the acidity of the mine water, elevate the pH and promote precipitation of dissolved metals. The New Victoria Treatment Plant serves as a testament to ongoing efforts in responsible resource extraction, ensuring that natural habitats are preserved and safeguarded for generations to come.
On the second day, explore the former Victoria Junction Coal Preparation Plant, where a remediation plan was successfully implemented to mitigate acid rock drainage and metal leaching from the coal wash plant, which is located 5 km from the Sydney area. Remediation efforts have transitioned the site from an active to a passive treatment system. This facility provides a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the evolution of environmental practices in the coal mining sector and the crucial role they play in today’s world.
In the afternoon, the tour concludes with a return trip to Halifax, leaving you with a deeper understanding of the environmental efforts within the coal mining industry.
AIRPORT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY & MONTAGUE GOLD MINES – ONE DAY TOUR
Departure and Return: Friday, September 20
Minimum of participants: 15
Maximum of participants: 30
Fee: $300
Description
This day trip will depart from downtown Halifax and begin with a 35-minute drive to the water treatment facility at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. This facility has been in operation since 2002 and treats acidic runoff from sulphide-bearing slate that was used for airport construction beginning in the late 1950s. Following a two-hour tour of the treatment plant and discussion of ARD management by airport staff, the group will depart for lunch. In the afternoon, we will head to the historical Montague Gold District where gold was mined and milled from 1865 to 1940. Today, this former mine is located adjacent to a residential community and efforts are underway to develop a site remediation plan. The two-hour tour will be led by government staff who will highlight the history of the district, characteristics of the mine wastes, and ongoing efforts to assess and reduce risks to human and ecosystem health. The trip will conclude in downtown Halifax in the late afternoon.
