Pine Creek Goldfields Limited (PCG) is rehabilitating the Enterprise Pit
to an aquatic habitat and potential water resource. This paper discusses
the development and implementation of that plan. Pine Creek Goldfields Ltd's Enterprise Mine is located approximately
230 km south of Darwin. Open cut mining of the orebody commenced in
1985 and continued for eight years with 14 million m3 of ore and
overburden extracted. Geochemical testing of exposed rock types in the pit has demonstrated
a propensity to produce acid, and dissolved metals. A plan of management
has been developed and implemented to minimise the risk of acid
formation and improve the overall water quality in the final void. In
developing the plan prime consideration was given to reducing the
potential for pit water to impact upon the regional groundwater. An interception system was constructed on Pine Creek to divert
approximately 9 km2 of upper catchment into the northern end of the Pit.
Construction of the diversion system was completed in December 1993
and a comprehensive surface and groundwater monitoring program
initiated. The monitoring program and associated studies are also
discussed.