The Mining Industry presents many challenges to the use of Geosynthetics and Lining systems in particular.

Heap Leach impoundments for the Mining Industry utilise relatively low – cost, quick return-on-investment construction techniques which necessarily require a close balance between the importance of collecting and preventing loss of valuable product in the solution phase against the necessity to prevent the pollution of the immediate environment.

Depending on the type of ore being extracted the metalliferous product in solution is often highly charged with chemical re-agents such as cyanide or sulphuric acid and therefore any liner system employed in the process should be resistant to the long – term use of such chemicals.

Heap Leach is universally used for the large scale,commercial, high volume low grade extraction of crushed metallic oxidised ore such as Gold , copper and Silver.

These low grade ores ( generally oxides ) are stacked on Geomembrane lined pads which collect and divert the ore in solution away from the pad into perimeter solution trenches and away by gravity to Solution ponds which are described in the following section.

Tailings Ponds and Slimes dams on the other hand which are essentially waste deposit facilities for the very fine ( Silt or dust size ) residual fractions, following the extraction of metal from ore by way of milling or concentrators. These deposits are generally very fluid and are hydraulically placed in “ beaches and berms “ and the overflow liquid is passed via conduits and penstocks through the body of the tailings dam to a liquid retention dam whilst the Tailings facility consolidates and de-waters under its own self weight.

The residues contained in Ash , Gypsum or Gold slimes facilities are often very toxic and the protection of the environment is again achieved by the use of continuous geomembrane liner interfaces.

Typically, Linings which fall into this category can be divided , but certainly not limited to the following groups: Heap Leach / Tailings and Slimes dams/ Pregnant and Barren solution surface impoundments./ Ash dams / Slag Heaps./ Concentrators and Thickener tanks / Gypsum Tailings dams.

Enviro Seal can advise and recommend on the most cost-effective, safe and appropriate lining solutions to meet clients specific requirements. Contact Enviro Seal now for a fully professional service relating to advice on product selection, capability profiling and quotations for the supply and /or installation of lining solutions for specific projects.