The rehabilitation of potentially acid forming waste rock is site specific, being a function, among other factors, of the rock types, the dumping and storage method employed, and the climatic setting. The "store/release" cover developed to manage acid rock drainage from mineralized waste rock piles at Kidston Gold Mines' open pit operations in the semi-arid, seasonal, subtropical climate of North Queensland, Australia, has been monitored for nine years. The paper describes the philosophy behind the "store/release" cover design and its adaptation over time to suit Kidston's conditions. The results of monitoring of a number of covers over the nine years since the first cover was constructed are presented, together with data on seepage flows and water quality emanating from the piles, and estimates are made of the overall water balance of the rock piles. The Kidston story is a valuable case study of a successful approach to remediating an identified source of acid rock drainage in a semi-arid climate, which has actively engaged all Stakeholders.
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