Gold mining cyanide-bearing solutions can pose a risk, cause significant wildlife deaths and adverse public relations and result in non-compliance with regulatory conditions._x000D_
The International Cyanide Management Code for the Manufacture, Transport and Use of Cyanide in the Production of Gold (the Code) was developed as a voluntary code to encourage industry-wide improvements in managing cyanide responsibly. The Code requires design and implementation of robust monitoring programs for compliance under the following standards of practice: 4.1, 4.4 and 4.9._x000D_
A robust monitoring regime can be complicated as each processing and tailing system is different. The following systems are commonly used in Australia: carbon-in-leach (CIL); carbon-in-pulp (CIP); heap leach process ponds; tailing waste disposal systems; peripheral discharge, central discharge and in-pit disposal._x000D_
Some terrestrial wildlife can be denied access by fencing tailing storage facilities (TSFs) or other physical barriers, therefore limiting wildlife interaction with cyanide-bearing tailing and solutions to mainly birds and bats._x000D_
While wildlife monitoring programs for processing and TSFs contain similar core attributes, it is necessary to adapt monitoring to take into account the site-specific features of each system. These core attributes are discussed in this paper, with reference made to cyanide concentration and associated methodologies. The issue is considerably complicated if tailing solutions are deemed or discovered to be toxic to wildlife._x000D_
Essentially cyanides are required to be measured to gain an understanding of the concentrations to which wildlife may be exposed. This usually equates to measuring the cyanide concentration of solutions entering and leaving a tailing system._x000D_
To assess the risk to wildlife presented by tailing and heap leach systems it is necessary to monitor both the hazard (cyanide concentrations) and the exposure (live wildlife species, presence and interaction). These tasks need not be arduous and a system of simple frequent monitoring has been developed and implemented for Code compliance. The wildlife monitoring developed by Donato Environmental Services (DES) and used at mining operations departs from the industry norm. It documents observer effort, live wildlife presence, habitat and behaviour in a tailing system, as well as deaths and carcasses._x000D_
A greater understanding of wildlife cyanide toxicosis associated with this monitoring approach will enable mining companies to adopt a proactive approach to significantly reduce, or preferably eliminate, the impact on wildlife and assist in gaining Code compliance.