The mining industry is responsible for the generation of substantial quantities of tailings, which poses significant environmental challenges in terms of their management. These tailings, stored in tailings storage facilities covering several hectares, can have the potential to produce contaminated mine drainage when they come into contact with water. A viable solution to the problem of contamination is to cover the tailings with a mine cover system. The purpose of a mine cover system is to prevent rainwater from infiltrating into the tailings. Among the existing covers, the cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE), composed of several layers with contrasting hydrogeological properties that promote lateral water diversion, is particularly well suited to Quebec's humid climate. The assessment of its long-term effectiveness is based on the installation of punctual sensors to measure water content and suction in the different layers of the cover. In recent years, geophysical methods, particularly time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TL-ERT), have emerged as a complementary, non-invasive, and large-scale approach to monitor the spatio-temporal dynamics of water within these structures.
This master thesis presents the implementation of the TL-ERT method for monitoring water flow in a thin, multi-layered, inclined CCBE installed on a pilot scale at a tailings storage facility in Quebec. More specifically, this research proposes a methodology that integrates hydrogeological modelling into the processing of TL-ERT data, with the aim of reducing the uncertainties associated with the conventional interpretation of these measurements.
A feasibility study was first conducted prior to the field campaign to optimise the chances of obtaining good quality data, followed by an eight-day measurement campaign during which TL-ERT data were continuously acquired before, during and after a four hours injection of a saline water tracer. Finally, a hydrogeological model, calibrated using water content data from sensors installed within the CCBE, enabled a more reliable and accurate interpretation of the results which confirmed the effectiveness of the cover system in diverting water laterally downslope. The results highlight the relevance of the proposed interpretation approach and provide proof of concept for a more accurate assessment of the hydrogeological behaviour of thin mine covers characterized by high resistivity contrast between their layers.
| Date | 19 Feb 2026 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Adrien Dimech (Supervisor), Vincent Boulanger-Martel (Co-supervisor) & Karine Sylvain (Co-supervisor) |
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Bedoui, L. (Author),
Dimech (Supervisor), Boulanger-Martel (Co-supervisor) & Sylvain (Co-supervisor),
19 Feb 2026Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Construction Engineering