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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
Ma’aden Aluminum Projects
Project Manager for the Stage 1 Residue Storage Facility (RSF) at the refinery site. Evaluation and design of the HDPE lined facilities (Cells 1 and 2) for the refinery waste. Preparation of concepts, evaluation reports, technical review and client liaison.
Mahenge Graphite
Project Geotechnical Consultant to Black Rock Mining Limited and CPC Engineering for their proposed Dry Stacked Tailings Storage Facility (DSTSF). Evaluation of FS data prepared by others and preparation of recommendations on dry stacking for the 32-year life of project.
Manono Lithium Tin Project
Project Geotechnical Consultant to AVZ Minerals Limited for their Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) which at this stage is a wet TSF supplemented with an in-pit TSF. Evaluation of the project site preparation of the preliminary concepts followed by detailed design for the 30-year life of project. Training of site geologists to undertake the required geotechnical investigation works as part of the TSF design.
Marandoo Iron Ore Project
Project Manager with responsibility for: Fieldwork for the selecting and proving of a quarry site for aggregates suitable for concrete, road sealing and ballast, investigation of a 120km rail alignment and 22km access road. Coordination and management of geotechnical team, liaison with Project Design Team, preparation of reports for all aspects of the project. Liaison and site visits during construction to monitor the progress of the works.
Marillana Project for Brockman Resources Limited
Project Manager for evaluation of inpit tailings integrated with mine waste options (start up through to closure). Preparation of evaluation reports, technical review and client liaison.
Marymia Gold 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.
Mawson Pacific
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.
Mesa J Iron Ore Project
Project Director / Project Manager with responsibility for Extensive tailings testing programme and design of the Inpit TSF. Geotechnical investigations (boreholes and testpits) for the plant sites (PP1 and PP2). Liaison with client and Governments for tailings storage approvals. Liaison and site visits during construction to monitor the progress of the works.
Miduk Copper Project
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.
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.