12 November 2026
Scientific insight to support responsible mine waste management
Geita, Tanzania | June 2026
TANSHEQ Limited has completed an Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) study for Buckreef Gold Company Limited, providing practical evidence to support waste rock management at the Buckreef Gold Mine in Tanzania’s Geita Region. The assessment will inform the mine’s ongoing development and planned extensions of its waste rock dumps.
Waste rock can generate acidic drainage when certain minerals react with air and water. Buckreef engaged TANSHEQ to assess this risk in selected materials and translate the results into guidance for waste rock management.
TANSHEQ coordinated the receipt and characterization of 33 drill core samples supplied by Buckreef. These were grouped by geological characteristics, lithology and sampling zones into eight representative composite samples. Laboratory testing was carried out at the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST) Laboratory in Dodoma, with TANSHEQ overseeing technical coordination, interpreting the results and preparing the report. The assessment covered Acid Potential, Neutralization Potential, Net Neutralization Potential, Net Acid Generation testing, pH and electrical conductivity.
All eight composite samples were classified as non-acid generating under the overall ABA assessment. Neutralization Potential exceeded Acid Potential in every sample, while Net Neutralization Potential ranged from +125.11 to +323.25 kg H₂SO₄ per tonne. Net Acid Generation test pH values ranged from 5.36 to 6.83, above the study’s principal acid-generation concern threshold of pH 4.5.
These results indicate a low potential for acid mine drainage from the sampled materials under static laboratory test conditions. On this basis, the study recommended that additional kinetic testing was not necessary at that stage. The findings remain specific to the materials tested and do not replace the need for appropriate environmental management and ongoing monitoring.
For Buckreef, the assessment provides a technical basis for evaluating environmental risks and making informed waste rock management decisions. It also shows how collaboration between mining operators, environmental consultants and qualified laboratories can turn scientific data into practical guidance.
The assignment brings together TANSHEQ’s expertise in mine waste characterization, ABA assessment, laboratory coordination and technical interpretation. It reflects the company’s commitment to helping Tanzania’s mining sector manage environmental risks through reliable evidence and practical advice.
Mining operators planning new projects or expanding existing operations can contact TANSHEQ Limited to discuss geochemical testing, environmental assessment and mine waste management support.
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