1600 Specht Point Road    Suite 209    Fort Collins, CO 80525    Ph 970.488.3111    Fax 970.488.3112      

 
 


MINING DESIGN AND RECLAMATION

The following are representative projects performed by personnel of Engineering Analytics, Inc.

 


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EA provides management consulting and technical services in four principal business areas:

  

COMPREHENSIVE RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE PLAN, GAS HILLS, WYOMING

  


EA staff provided consulting services to Umetco Minerals Corporation for reclamation of their uranium mine and mill site at Gas Hills, Wyoming. The project consisted of design for reclamation of an inactive tailings impoundment, two mine ore excavations and two evaporation ponds. EA staff also performed a site-wide hydrology study, a characterization study of the groundwater and geochemistry and a risk assessment analysis for clean-up of radiological contaminants.
 

Consulting Services Provided:

  • Analyses of the existing cover system on the inactive tailings impoundment and design of an enhanced cover to provide adequate erosion protection for the 1,000-year design life

  • Cover design for the two mine ore excavations and two evaporation ponds including geotechnical stability analyses, settlement analyses, radon attenuation analyses, infiltration analyses and erosion protection design

  • Characterization of subsurface flow conditions and contaminant transport mechanisms

  • Groundwater characterization and preliminary assessment of remedial action alternatives

  • Radiological investigation and risk assessment to evaluate potential radiological risk to the public and to evaluate the feasibility of remedial action alternatives
     

 


Reclamation of Uranium Mine and Mill Site,
Gas Hills, Wyoming


 
 

COVER AND REPOSITORY DESIGN, URAVAN, COLORADO

  
 


EA staff assisted in the preparation of modifications to the remedial action plan for this CERCLA site. EA staff designed cover alternatives for the raffinate spray area and designed runoff control features. The Burbank repository was designed to contain Title 1 waters from the nearby Naturita site. EA staff designed the cover for the repository considering radon flux, frost protection, settlement, cover cracking, erosion protection and storm flow diversions.
 

Consulting Services Provided:

  • Designed cover alternatives for raffinate spray area

  • Designed cover for the Burbank repository for containing wastes from Naturita

  • Designed diversions for the Burbank repository and raffinate spray area
     



CERCLA site, Uravan, Colorado
 
 

OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND PRELIMINARY RECLAMATION PLAN, HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

  
 


EA staff designed and supervised construction of a reclamation plan and embankment raise for Umetco Minerals Corporation’s tailings dam in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The goal was to design a reclamation plan that provided for continued operation while improving the existing drainage system and overall stability of the impoundment. Design controls included maintaining the existing toe of the embankment while excavating the downstream face of the dam to a 3:1 slope, and constructing an upsteam raise from the excavated materials. EA staff provided QA/QC through completion of the project.
 

EA staff provided the following services:

  • Preliminary subsurface investigation, including a comprehensive sampling program and piezometer installation

  • Flood routing and design of two spillways to control basin and impoundment runoff

  • Seepage analyses for design of a blanket drain to control the phreatic surface

  • Embankment stability analyses for static and seismic conditions

  • Liquefaction analyses

  • Construction specifications and construction oversight
     



Hot Springs Tailings Dam, Arkansas

Client: Umetco Minerals Corporation

 

 

 
 

CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY, OWENS LAKE, CALIFORNIA

  
 


EA staff performed a characterization of sodium sulfate tailings that were placed in a disposal facility on the dry lake bed of Owens Lake, California. EA staff performed a full characterization of the site with the purpose of determining if material had been released from the disposal facility to the lake bed sediments or groundwater. The characterization included a physical stability study performed with ground penetrating radar, a groundwater study that involved installing numerous monitoring wells and piezometers, a geochemistry study of the sodium sulfate and lake bed evaporates, a geochemical background study and chemical transport modeling. The results of this study showed that the tailings have had minimal effects on the groundwater.
 

Consulting Services Provided:

  • Comprehensive site characterization

  • Physical stability study

  • Groundwater study

  • Geochemistry study

  • Background study

  • Chemical transport modeling
     



Owens Lake Site, Owens Lake, California

 

HEAP LEACH AND RELATED PROCESS COMPONENT DESIGN, KINGMAN, ARIZONA

  
 


EA staff provided site investigation, engineering and design of a heap leach pad and related process facilities for a gold recovery operation located in Mohave County, Arizona. The design included site investigations, laboratory testing, engineering evaluations, conceptual and final design and development of construction specifications for the heap leach and process components. EA staff performed optimization of grading plans and material quantities for the project site. Permitting assistance included a detailed aquifer protection permit application for the project under ARS regulations, and 404 permitting compliance. EA staff interacted with state and federal agencies and local authorities to obtain project approval.


Consulting Services Provided:

  • Site investigation and conceptual site selection

  • Designed and engineered heap leach pad and process components

  • Optimized grading plan, prepared construction drawings and technical specifications

  • Interactions with state and federal agencies to support Nevada Pacific Mining Company’s operation

  • Permitting support including Aquifer Protection Permit Application preparation
     



Heap Leach Pad, Mohave County, Arizona
 

HEAP LEACH AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES DESIGN, MOAB, UTAH

  
 


EA staff provided engineering services including site investigation and design of a heap leach pad and associated facilities for a copper recovery operation in San Juan County, Utah. The design included Stage 1, with considerations and development for future stages. EA staff performed detailed soils and foundation investigations, including management of a cone penetration testing (CPT) investigation and a seismic line study to define in-situ soil properties and bedrock surfaces. The heap leach included settlement sensory design and advanced leak detection as required by the state of Utah. EA staff performed optimization of the design including grading plans, liner and leak protection, piping quantities, pond sizing, and solution piping network layout and quantities.
 

EA staff provided the following services:

  • Detailed engineering and design for Stage 1 heap and leach pad.

  • Optimized the grading plan, developed construction drawings and prepared technical specifications for construction of the pad, collection and return ponds and associated facilities.

  • Provided management of CPT and seismic line site investigations and studies.

  • Developed and designed detailed leak detection and settlement sensory studies.
     

 


Moab Site, San Juan County, Utah

 

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  Engineering Analytics, Inc.
1600 Specht Point Road, Suite 209
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
Phone: (970) 488-3111
Fax: (970) 488-3112

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