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Geological Services Pty Ltd
(L&MGSPL)
L&MGSPL and its Subsidiary Company TSF Reviews PL (TSFRPL) specialise in the execution of high-level geotechnical work associated with tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and other mine infrastructure from initial site reconnaissance and assessment during exploration through study phases for the development of mine projects.
Execution of high-level geotechnical work associated with tailings storage facilities (TSFs)
Chris Lane is Director and Principal Consultant (Engineering and Environmental Geologist) of L&MGSPL/TSFRPL with broad experience in civil construction fields, including site investigation of land based and marine based developments, and particular expertise in large resource projects.
He has more than 30 years’ experience in resource projects including site investigation and construction of infrastructure (plant sites, heap leach facilities, roads, railways and airstrips and tailing storage facilities (TSFs)).
Tailings storage facility experience
Involvement with TSFs covers aspects of design, construction, auditing and tailings/residue management reviews for a large number of projects covering a range of commodities including: alumina residue, bauxite residue, base metals (copper, lead and zinc), coal, gold, graphite, iron ore, manganese, nickel (sulphide and laterite), phosphate residues, rare earth residues, uranium and vanadium.
Special interests are dry stacked tailings storage facilities (DSTSF), Inpit TSFs, and Integrated waste landforms (IWL).
Chris has experience in the following overseas locations United Kingdom; Middle East (Egypt, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates); Armenia; Pakistan; Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Vietnam); West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal), East Africa (Ethiopia, Tanzania) and Southern Africa (Mozambique, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo); South America (Brazil, Chile, Guyana and Uruguay).
Climatic experience covers Tropical (high rainfall); Humid Savannah (high seasonal rainfall); Temperate; Semi-arid; Arid; and Hyper Arid.
Do you have a tailings storage facility or potential mine project where you need some help with your tailings storage?
Experience
Various Magnetite and Iron Ore Projects
Provision of input for tailings and water balance studies for various magnetite projects (Eyre Iron – South Australia, Crosslands and Extension Hill – Western Australia); and iron ore (Roy Hill, Flinders, and FMG Nyidinghu – Western Australia). Work has involved evaluation of existing concepts (start up through to closure); development of new concepts; evaluation of tailings testwork; technical review and client liaison.
Wafi Golpu Tailings Storage Facility
Project Manager for the Pre-Feasibility Optimisation Study for the tailings storage facility. Review and evaluation of data and development of conceptual design. Direction of design of the containment embankment evaluation reports, technical review and client liaison. Project Manager for the Tailings Storage Strategy Study for evaluation of options and selection of the “go forward option” for the Feasibility Study for thickened tailings for the first, 27 years, mine tailings storage. Review of the filtered, dry stack tailings alternative.
Wahgnion Gold Project
Project reviewer for the FS Tailings Storage Facility designed by others. Gaps in the design identified and recommendations provided for improvements to the design. Independent review of TSF construction.
West Angelas Project
Geotechnical investigations (geological mapping boreholes, costeans and testpits) for the proposed 370km railway line and infrastructure at West Angelas and Cape Lambert.
Windimurra Vanadium Project
Project reviewer for the Tailings Storage Facility designed by others. Gaps in the design identified and recommendations provided for improvements to the design. Scoping study for redesign of the TSFs.
Windimurra Vanadium Project – Mt Magnet WA
Extensive tailings testing programme for tailings from the magnetic separation and calcine tailings circuits; Design of TSF; Liaison and site visits during construction to monitor the progress of the works; Co-ordination of fieldwork, laboratory test work and preparation of factual and evaluation reports, technical review and client liaison.
WMC Resources Ltd, Kambalda Nickel Operations
Advice on design concepts (start up through to closure), operation, audits, inspections, management reviews, advice on seepage, stability, tailings deposition, water recovery and preparation of tailings disposal strategy plans.
Yakabindie Nickel Project
Project Manager for the Yakabindie Nickel Project with responsibility for: Geotechnical investigations of the plant site tailings storage and flood diversion channels including supervision of all fieldwork, laboratory testing and preparation of reports. Preparation of the Consultative Environmental Review for the project including management of sub-consultants for fauna, flora, groundwater, surface water and ethnographic studies and preparation of the final report. Liaison with Department of Mines, Environmental Protection Authority and other Government Departments, Process Consultants and clients. Design of the project tailings storage facilities.
Yandi Stage 1 Iron Ore Project
Project Manager with responsibility for Geotechnical investigations (geological mapping boreholes, costeans and testpits) for the proposed 32km railway line, load out facility and accommodation facility. Organisation and supervision of all fieldwork for more than 20 cuttings along the railway alignment, laboratory test work and preparation of factual and evaluation reports. Liaison and site visits during construction to monitor the progress of the works.
Execution of:
- Routine annual geotechnical reviews of TSF which comprises visual assessment of TSFs, review of operation and management practices and assessment of TSFs in terms of compliance the design and regulatory criteria governing the performance of TSFs.
- Technical reviews of TSF design documents.
- Geotechnical advice on the closure and rehabilitation aspects of TSFs.
Specialising in
Inpit tailings storage facilities
In-pit tailings deposition has grown in popularity for mature mining projects, new projects being developed and potential projects being studied. In-pit tailings storage facilities (IPTSFs) maximise the use of resources and offer many economic and environmental benefits. This technique is not suited to all mining sites.
Integrated waste landforms
The development of new tailings storage facilities (TSF) for mining projects, both new and existing projects, requires innovative design approaches to optimise the available resources and achieve the desired outcomes of safe stable structures with minimal environmental impact.
Dry stacked tailings studies
Dry stacking is the terminology which describes the placement of tailings which has been thickened to a slurry density of 65% – 70% solids by weight, before being filtered/screened to 80% – 90% solids by weight to further reduce the volume of liquor prior to transportation and placement of the tailings.