Closure rehabilitation encompasses the physical and ecological restoration activities carried out at a mining site after operations have permanently ceased. In the context of bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining, these activities include recontouring and reshaping disturbed landforms, stabilising waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities, re-establishing topsoil profiles, and revegetating disturbed areas with native or approved species to restore biodiversity and ecosystem function. Water management works — such as the treatment of acid mine drainage, regrading of diversion channels, and decommissioning of water dams — form a critical component of closure rehabilitation. The goal is to achieve a stable, self-sustaining landscape that meets pre-agreed success criteria, typically defined in consultation with regulatory authorities, local communities, and environmental scientists. Closure rehabilitation is distinct from concurrent or progressive rehabilitation, which occurs during the operational phase, though both ultimately contribute to achieving an acceptable final landform and ecosystem outcome for the mining site.
