The study was concluded in 1993. The project area experiences mild damp maritime conditions. Most precipitation occurs in the winter, primarily as rain. Bedrock in the area is mantled by thin till deposits. The Cinola deposit was formed by localization of relatively low temperature hydrothermal fluids along a fault system.
Calcite occurs at similar or lower concentrations.
Several rock types were classified as potentially acid generating based on conventional acid-base accounting. The study yielded important data on long term weathering trends for tests conducted at different scales. Trends in waste rock pad leachate were less apparent due to annual flushing events related to late summer and fall rainfall. However, a qualitatively similar long term decrease in sulphate production and increase in leachate pH was observed. After five years, the waste pad leachate continued to be strongly acidic for three test piles and concentrations of iron, copper, zinc and arsenic were indicative of acidic weathering conditions.