System and method for treating an excavation activity

A method for treating materials produced from an excavation activity, comprising:

• a. flowing a foam through a distribution network in fluid communication with a collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials;
• b. selecting a reagent to react with at least one of sulfides or bacteria in said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials to reduce acid rock drainage from said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials, wherein said reagent comprises at least one of iron, copper, manganese oxide, zeolite minerals, peat, activated carbon, or organic resins;
• c. mixing said reagent with said foam flowing through said distribution network to form a reagent-foam mixture;
• and
• d. dispersing said foam-reagent mixture over at least a portion of said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials.

A system for treating materials produced from an excavation activity, comprising:

• a. a collection of at least one of waste rock, heap leach, or tailings materials;
• b. a distribution network in fluid communication with said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials;
• c. a foaming agent supplied through said distribution network to said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials;
• d. a reagent supplied through said distribution network to mix with said foaming agent to form a reagent-foam mixture, wherein said reagent is selected to react with said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials to reduce acid rock drainage from said collection of at least one of waste rock or tailings materials;
• and
• e. wherein said reagent comprises at least one of milk, sodium thiocyanate, sawdust, paper, or composted animal manure.