HydroGeoLogica’s geochemists are experts in designing and implementing mine waste management programs for tailings, waste rock, pit lakes, spent ore, solid/municipal waste, treatment residuals and sludges, impacted water, and other chemicals, materials, and wastes. We specialize in identifying and taking advantage of existing site materials and conditions to minimize management and closure costs and to optimize the permitting process.
HydroGeoLogica applies global standards for material and waste characterization such as MEND, the GARD Guide, International Cyanide Code, ICMM, and Equator Principles to determine best management practices.
In cases where industry standard laboratory and field geochemical test protocols are not appropriate, we have extensive experience in specialized test design to provide the most valuable data for the project.
HydroGeoLogica innovates to identify low-cost, low-risk waste management options that also work within operational constraints, such as encapsulating poor quality waste materials within better quality materials, submerging reactive waste to minimize oxidation and weathering, or blending different waste streams to mitigate acid generation and metals leaching. An appropriately-designed facility cover is an integral part of a system that will provide sustainable, low-risk storage for mine waste. A properly-designed cover considers the nature of the materials being covered, the quantity and type of available local soils, the climate, and local conditions such as aspect and vegetation. HydroGeoLogica has developed expertise in cover design including borrow soil characterization (geotechnical and unsaturated flow properties), field cover trials (design, construction, and instrumentation), and geochemical and nutrient testing.
Modeling is used to help assess risk by predicting water quality of runoff or seepage for various management and closure options. This helps to screen out high risk and/or high cost options early in the planning process. We use PHREEQC, HYDRUS, and other commercial flow and geochemical modeling tools. We also build customized analytical models for specialized site conditions and scenarios.
