Evapotranspirative Cover System Performance Evaluation
Location
Nevada, USA
Client
Barrick Goldstrike Mining, Inc.
Project Description
GSA conducted an 12 year cover system performance monitoring study at the closed AA Heap Leach Pad. GSA characterized soil cover and heap leach ore properties and installed fourteen instrument clusters into the cover system under various site-specific environmental conditions such as slope and aspect. Soil water content, pressure potential, water flux meter and draindown data were used to estimate and numerically model the net percolation through the cover system. Rooting surveys and in-situ hydraulic testing studies were conducted near the end of the study to determine sub-surface vegetation conditions and the cover material hydraulic properties 12 years after facility closure. Monitoring data demonstrated that the closed facility cover system performance meet the closure plan objectives.
Project Highlights
- Design and implementation of cover performance monitoring systems
- Field and laboratory characterization of hydraulic properties
- Cover system performance monitoring
- Rooting surveys