Overview
ISO/TR 24419-2:2023, Mine closure and reclamation - Managing mining legacies - Part 2: Case studies and bibliography, is a Technical Report published by ISO that supplements ISO 24419-1. Rather than prescribing procedures, this document compiles illustrative case studies, lessons learned and a curated bibliography from around the world to broaden practitioner understanding of practical approaches for managing mining legacies. It is a reference resource that documents real-world experiences - from legal reforms and funding models to community engagement and technical remediation - across diverse geographies and mine types.
Key topics covered
The report organizes practical insight into recurring themes and examples, including:
- Case studies from multiple jurisdictions (Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany, France, USA, China, New Caledonia, Chile, Finland, Mali and others).
- Design and stakeholder engagement in complex remediation projects (e.g., Giant Mine).
- Program performance evaluation and reporting for legacy mine programs.
- Remediation techniques for abandoned and contaminated sites, including uranium and asbestos mine fields.
- Integration of traditional knowledge into rehabilitation planning.
- Legal and regulatory improvements informed by closure difficulties.
- Funding and long‑term financing models, such as national funds, foundations, public–private partnerships and biodiversity offsets.
- Operational topics: monitoring and early warning systems for tailings storage facilities (TSFs), maintenance of rehabilitated sites, and program resourcing.
- Bibliography and further reading to support deeper technical or policy research.
Note: As a Technical Report, ISO/TR 24419-2 does not establish normative requirements or mandatory procedures; it provides documented examples and references to inform decision-making.
Practical applications and who uses it
This report is valuable to:
- Mine operators and closure planners seeking examples of remediation and stewardship approaches.
- Regulators and policymakers designing frameworks for abandoned mine management, financial assurance and long‑term obligations.
- Environmental and geotechnical consultants looking for precedent cases and lessons learned for technical design, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
- Community stakeholders and Indigenous groups interested in how traditional knowledge and social engagement have been incorporated in other projects.
- Financiers and fund managers assessing models for perpetual care, legacy funds and biodiversity offset financing.
- Researchers and educators using the bibliography and case studies for applied studies in mine closure and reclamation.
Related standards and resources
- ISO 24419-1 - the primary standard on managing mining legacies (normative guidance).
- National mining codes, environmental regulations, and technical guidance cited within the report (see bibliography in ISO/TR 24419-2 for full references).
Keywords: mine closure, reclamation, managing mining legacies, ISO 24419-2, case studies, tailings monitoring, legacy rehabilitation, funding mechanisms, biodiversity offsets.
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