Charles Whitehead, Ph.D.
Senior Geochemist
Dr. Whitehead has been investigating issues related to water treatment and contaminant transport in the mining industry for the past 13 years. Over the last 7 years at Geomega he has been responsible for issues related to acid rock drainage and has prepared NDEP-approved waste rock management plans (WRMPs) for three Nevada mines that have formalized the process of mapping acid neutralizing and acid generating volumes of waste rock in a fashion acceptable to NDEP. The WRMPs were based on materials characterization approaches that used existing core to address data gaps, meeting NDEP expectations for sample density on a compressed timeline. The WRMPs also utilized kinetic characterization data (HCT leachates) to describe the solute release from waste rock and assess the efficacy of cover scenarios designed to protect groundwater.
Dr. Whitehead has identified several cost-saving measures for his clients through the data QA/QC process associated with WRMP preparation. Examples include the reduction of monitoring frequency and required analytes as well as adjustments to the required acid-base accounting cut-off ratio used to distinguish acid generating materials.
He has also prepared permitting documents for rapid infiltration basins that relied heavily on results from MODFLOW-SURFACT groundwater modeling components. His work also utilizes vadose zone transport simulations to better understand seepage rates and treatment needs for mining impacted water.
He is the technical manager for the NV-certified Geomega laboratory, overseeing lab operations, ensuring the appropriateness of laboratory procedures and that NDEP criteria for humidity cells and other test work are met.
Senior Geochemist
Dr. Whitehead has been investigating issues related to water treatment and contaminant transport in the mining industry for the past 13 years. Over the last 7 years at Geomega he has been responsible for issues related to acid rock drainage and has prepared NDEP-approved waste rock management plans (WRMPs) for three Nevada mines that have formalized the process of mapping acid neutralizing and acid generating volumes of waste rock in a fashion acceptable to NDEP. The WRMPs were based on materials characterization approaches that used existing core to address data gaps, meeting NDEP expectations for sample density on a compressed timeline. The WRMPs also utilized kinetic characterization data (HCT leachates) to describe the solute release from waste rock and assess the efficacy of cover scenarios designed to protect groundwater.
Dr. Whitehead has identified several cost-saving measures for his clients through the data QA/QC process associated with WRMP preparation. Examples include the reduction of monitoring frequency and required analytes as well as adjustments to the required acid-base accounting cut-off ratio used to distinguish acid generating materials.
He has also prepared permitting documents for rapid infiltration basins that relied heavily on results from MODFLOW-SURFACT groundwater modeling components. His work also utilizes vadose zone transport simulations to better understand seepage rates and treatment needs for mining impacted water.
He is the technical manager for the NV-certified Geomega laboratory, overseeing lab operations, ensuring the appropriateness of laboratory procedures and that NDEP criteria for humidity cells and other test work are met.
GOOD SCIENCE
HARD WORK
CREATIVE THINKING
