Evaluation of Dust Fallout at Malmberget mine, Sweden for the period August 2009 to August 2010

Abstract

Dust is produced when mining operations take place. The transportation and deposition of dust depend mainly on climatic factors, as well as land surface characteristics. Malmberget mine operated by Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag is one of the most important iron mines in Sweden. The mining area includes an area with a huge open pit and an industrial center. Both sites are surrounded by residential areas where people are suffering from dust problems. The collected dust from 26 measuring stations during the period 2001 to 2010 has been analyzed using the surfer 9.0 program. Generally speaking the dust fallout in summer was higher than that in winter and the volumes decreased through time as a result of implemented dust control methods. Analysis of the data from August 2009 to August 2010 indentified two sources of dust generation. One was located close to the open pit, and the other near the current mining industrial center. Among all the measuring stations, the maximum and minimum values within the year were 1284 g/100m2/30d and 9 g/100m2/30d, respectively. Dust production around the Malmberget mine was attributed to three reasons, namely, wind erosion of the exposed area close to the open pit, truck transportation on haul roads, and wind erosion of stockpiles. In addition to climatic factors, the variation of dust detected depended on mining activities and road construction.