To operate the Kings Mountain Mine in an environmentally protective manner and implement water management industry practices, Albemarle has conducted detailed water studies and modeling to predict flows within the project area for all phases of the mine’s project plan. Albemarle’s goal in the site is to design and deploy safe and environmentally responsible mining methods that protect groundwater and surface water resources. We plan to conduct ongoing water monitoring and maintain a mitigation plan to address any issues throughout the lifecycle of the mine operations, through to the closure of the site.
Sustainable Water Use
The Kings Mountain Mine is designed to operate with a positive water balance meaning the water supply used to support project operations will come from collected precipitation that is pumped and/or piped for storage in an onsite water storage basin. The project is anticipated to only require external use of groundwater or municipal sources of water for drinking, fire protection and sanitary purposes.
Mine Pit Dewatering
The Kings Mountain Mine’s open pit accumulated primarily rainwater over the last several decades since prior mining operations ceased in the 1990s. To continue to conduct additional prefeasibility studies and ultimately perform mining operations, the accumulated water was removed starting in 2024.
Over a nearly 20-month period, water was pumped from the pit to the treatment plant, where it underwent a multi‑step treatment process. Sediment and other organic materials were filtered out, and ultrafiltration ensured the final clarity of the water before it was transferred to a finished water tank. From there, the treated water was released into Kings Creek at carefully controlled rates.
Protecting the Wildlife
With concern for the pit lake inhabitants, wildlife biologists have completed studies of the aquatic species to ensure that no threatened or endangered species live in or around the pit. The only aquatic species found in the pit is the common bluegill which is not threatened or endangered. Biologists anticipate that birds and mammals will adjust and access other water bodies on and off-site.