Andrea Baker

Biography

Andrea has 10 years geochemistry research and consulting experience which she gained during her PhD and subsequent postdoctoral research fellowship in the Earth Sciences Department at Stellenbosch University. Her research focused on marine/terrestrial water and soil stable isotope and elemental analysis, statistical assessment, geochemical PHREEQC modelling of groundwater quality and soil redox chemistry. During her PhD, Andrea used n-alkyl biomarkers and carbon compound specific isotopes to delineate peatland dynamics and palaeoenvironmental fluctuations during deposition.

Since joining SLR, Andrea has been involved in complex pit water quality modelling closure projects, mining waste source term generation, ground water quality investigations, TSF performance monitoring, waste assessments and site wide acid rock drainage and metal leaching risk assessments for water use and mining licenses applications. Andrea has generated several redox and speciation dependent geochemical source terms for numerical and reactive groundwater models for mine expansion and waste backfilling feasibility studies, as well as risk assessments for ESIA and prefeasibility studies for proposed mines and recommissioning / reclamation of rehabilitated pits and tailings. Andrea has also managed waste management plan development for downstream Oil and Gas retail stations and waste audits for mining clients.