ABSTRACT
Shallow stopes of inactive hard rock mines have regularly been subject to failures. Over time, site information is lost and, until recently, no closure plans have been routinely fomulated. A national Standard has now been issued to support the decommissioning of shallow stopes. Taking into consideration the aspects of mines in permafrost terrains, it is presented as an overview here, in the areas prescibed to arrive at long-term stability assessment and related risk and solutions: information management, engineering stability, site management and engineering solutions. To date, there has been a limited number of abandoned mine workings in the Canadian arctic. With increasing minerals development activity, however, the problems need to be addressed. Abandoned mines represent non-traditional hazards to local people.
