Corrosion in the Mining Industry: A Case Study of the Britannia Mine

The mining, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy sectors operate in highly corrosive environments. Equipment, infrastructure, and processing systems are particularly vulnerable to accelerated corrosion under these harsh conditions. The resulting material degradation can lead to structural failures, containment breaches, production losses, environmental contamination, safety risks, and increased maintenance costs—all of which undermine operational reliability and public confidence. Therefore, continuous corrosion monitoring and management are critical to protecting essential assets and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of mining facilities [1]. This report focuses on the effects of corrosion in the mining industry through a case study of the Britannia Mine in British Columbia, Canada. It addresses the chemical and corrosion mechanisms responsible for acid rock drainage (ARD), assesses the resulting technical and environmental impacts, and evaluating the social and cultural consequences for surrounding communities and Indigenous groups. In addition, the report analyzes the remediation strategies implemented to control contamination and restore the site, along with a cost analysis of these efforts. Together, these aspects illustrate how corrosion management plays a vital role not only in maintaining infrastructure integrity but also in ensuring environmental protection and economic responsibility within the mining sector.

Author dc:creator

• Sabzehei, Kiana

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hedberg, Yolanda

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/38942

OAI record oai:identifier

https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Auwo.scholaris.ca%3A20.500.14721%2F38942