Geotechnical Aspects of Heap Leach Design Editor DIRK VAN ZYL Colorado State UniversityCopyright «© 1967 by the Society of Muning Engineers, Inc Printed in the Untied States of America by Cushing-Malloy, Ann Artor, Michigan AN eights raservad. This book. or pacts thereat, mey not bo faproduced in any form without permission of the publisher Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 86-6421 ISBN 0.87335.063-4Preface Geotechnical engineers can assist significantly in the development, design, and ‘operation of heap leach projects. They can assist in the site investigation and found ation preparation design, pad and liner design, heap material characterization, heap stability analysis, analysis of solution flow through the heap and its collection, de- sign of monitoring systems, and the design of collection ponds. This volume presents a collection of papers on most all of the foregoing topics. The papers are all written by practioners and operators and represent significant practical experience. They can indeed be considered as representative of the best available state-of-the-practice in geotechnical aspects of heap leach design | would like to thank all authors for their contributions. These papers were prepar: ed in time for reviews despite authors’ extremely busy summer field seasons. A num: ber of reviewers supported me in review of these papers. These reviews contributed significantly to the final quality of this volume: | would like to express my gratitude to these reviewers for their help. Dirk van Zyl Fort Collins, Golorado October 1986Organizing Committee Chairman and Proceedings Editor Dirk van Zyl Civil Engineoring Department Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO Rob Dorey Tom Harper ten, Robertson & Kirsten Kohn, Leonot! 9292 8. Vance St., Suite 210 No. 15, 6920 11thSi.,SE Lakewood, CO Calgary, Alba, Canada Fred Leonard Mark Smith Ridgeway Mining Co. Vector Engineering, nc. Route3 478 Celesta Or. Ridgeway, SC Grass Valley, CAContents Preface .... RANI Chapter 4 Optimizing Technology tor Leach Pad Liner Selection Donald R. East, Jeremy P. Haile, and Richard V. Beck ..... 2. Design of Chemically Amended Soil Liners Mark E. Smith and Gerald J. Gierzerski .. 3° Compression Testing of Geomembrane Soil Interfaces Lawrence A. Hansen and J. David Deatherage..... 4 Practical Design Considerations for the Installation of Leach Pad Liners Jona 0. Welsh........ niga 5 Heap Leach Construction over Tailings Silmes William J. Attwooll and Carl Gerity. ....++++ Slope Stability in Heap Leach Design Robert T. Tape... Construction of Leach Pads on Steeply Sioping Ground Nancy C. Shaverand Alan Tapp... )) Shear Testing of Geomembrane Soil interfaces Lawrence A. Hansen... } Potential for Heap Leach Mass Instability Robert T. Tape and Thomas G. Harper /h0) Engineoring Properties of Agglomarated Ore ina Heap Leach Pile ). T. Kinard and A. A. Schweizer. . +1 Feasibility Assessment for Increasing Heap Thicknesses at the Alligator Ridge Mine ae Clint Strachan and Dirk van Zyl 12 Heap Leaching Recovery Rates vs. Heap Height—A Case Study at Alliga- tor Ridge Mine, Nevada Alex Ruzycki and R.A. Womack .. Index ... o “a =) -s 9 15 23 27 33 65 7 83Chapter 1 priMreATrou mmomoLoGe FOR LEACH PAD LDR SELACTTON by Donald R, Bast, Jeceny P. Halle and Richard V. Beck Knight Plesold and Company 1600 Stout Stzoot, Ste 849 Danvee 69 90202 Absteact ie view of the Lnereasing use of heap Leach Gpecaticns in the sining induetey and | the Gtitically snpoceant (pecCocnance of the Leach pad Liner da both the economic and environmental Rtpecte of the design, it has becooe estential Thar the designee felly understand the factors affecting the performance of the Liner. Mintateing tho loss of pregnant solution through She teach pad Lines is obviously of paranount Unpoceence "to the eeoncaiee€ficleney and enviconsental compliaice of the heap Leach operation. Loaics encough the Mnec are a function of the hydraulic conductivity of the Liner material and the hydraulic gradient across the Miner, thio applies to both natural and synthetic aatertals. The hydraulic gradient across the Liner is a Eunctlon of the bubld-up of olution above the Linee; "waich in tern Le determiaed by the pecaeability of the Reap material, te slope of Eke Linee,. the drainage path lenges and tne Leachate infileeation rate. A relationship incorporating each of the Dacasevers and their e&tect on the hydcaulic Read acting on the Liner has been developed in Eten “of the Dupuit eeitecion, assuming one Gimenaioned flow vizh vertical acccetfen. sernonuerton the evteaction of precious satale by leaching Fron ore heaps ts usually cacried out of Eelative lor ore gcaisz. vhere the cost of precious metal recovery is cequiced to be kept Below ae poetible tn order to. justify the Rining opecotion, Ose of the major itens of Gxpendituce ie the Leach ped liner which con can {nto any millions of dollars tor the lacger hoop leach operations With such Lacge amounts of expenditure at stake: Te is inportent that the apse costreftective Liner ts used over the Life of the facility. the need to protect the enviroment from taceosive seepage of process Liguid and the Goncern of the mine owiec and opecator to prevent seepage of precious pregnant yolution Theo the Liner ang aubgeade are addressed in this optimisation eeckniqe- ‘The paper will indicete that ie {s essential to take! into ascount factors such as ore neag pecnoability, Leachate infiltcation cate, pad Htope snd dcaksage path Length in ordor © Optimize the “design ‘snd inec selection, Ghpical range of practical pad slopes are Gensideced vhich beacket the nocsal cange of pad Slopes of 20 9 «2, Wile it i necessary to setisty all the Crviconsental ‘cequirenents, the cureencly Secepeed criteria ace generally minima feqeicenents and do not take into sccount the Sconomie sepects of ‘loss of pregnant Leachate Cheough the pad liner. This paper provides a felatively quict sethod for ‘detecsining the (alse of the hydeaulte head on the pad 2inee “esque having” to eeooee to finite element aetnoas. ‘eHoRY OF BLOM ON A SLOPED LEACK PAD ‘one dimensional flov eheough heap dunped Eetectal on a flogeé leach pac, vith constant Geifocn cecharga provided by the’ application of Teachate. solution, was nofeled as a "One Dimensional Unconfined Flow Peoblent with a Gloping iapermeapie iined bos, nhecent in the Gecivation is that: 1) Steady state seepage occurs. This may fot alway be true in practice bat it 15 2 conservative assumption. 2) tantnar flow oozues, Lue, Daccy's taw is valid. This may not always be correct tor agglonerater and other coarse ore Dut again in consecvative the problen {4 iLlustcated in Figure ty which Tepeccente one-half the width of & heap dump.2 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN ‘the paraneters shown in the figure ate Sonmacized 3 follows: H = Inldtecation cate (:3/t02/se3) Q = Lateral steady state chow (€t3/sec) he = Height of the phreatic surface at Lea exle feon eho heap. (E) hh = Mlaight o€ the phecatic surface at any point x trom the center (€t) L =Total width of the heap fe by = Total head cée) ETT neight of pad atove dation Ge = Slope of the pad (dageses} K = peemeaditity Of the neap cusp aateriat ou, the flow, Q can be feptesented in genecal teens by the foLloviny equation: a= wa + feat wasce “ob supciniona, ALSahicpn ‘toon. icone ther chan ehe"larchate ogeiteation, (qn 1.) For only the leachate application thent a= mfx mu ten 2 And if the Dopuit asnimption i= invoted, thers eames aft em but for a sloped configuration the total head ay be expressed by Equation 3: nents ean Substituting Equation 3 in Equation 2: Q- ime m GE + aD (an 4.8) nity eth Be eneane eqn 4.8) Lee foc = *3¥ tana ean 5) Entegeating Equation 4,0 rasults inthe Eollowieg getera solutions sie? nb + aentina = Et ean 6) Taposing the boundary condition: x (2) ho ce) And solving for the constant, Ci Results in the following particulae salution fF saaaog «ADRS geil] areca + ho? (ean 6) wheres C= bo? + tm2/aK - uno tana (Eg 2) complating the square of the left-hand side of Chis equation eceulte in the following equation foc h In teens of the other & parancters: 4, X, iow ; ve [ted (2. dit ite mes pom fat) Eye Since the seepage losses of Leachate tnccosh ¢ Linee could be considered as being a function of the average head, we will teveite on 10 Le teens of an taverage head value" over the Length of the ped. Assuaing the pheeatic mucface to be parabolic in hapa, then the x-coordinate of the cestcoid af featuced teen the origin can te shovn to be Given by the following velacion aes en 11) Substituting Eqn 12 into Bqn 10 results in an ‘expression for the average nead over the length of the leach pad; based on the centeoidal x- Goocdinate of an assuaed pacabol le shaped Pheestle # ay we ‘ rave =[$ BS. no? - tno canes Seno’ = /s) ene (850 12) Implications, Te is of inevcest to mote that for the case of Anvel pad where @ = 0) Eqn 10 educes to. the ‘standacd equation for one dimensional elow vith vertical accretion. (See Reference 2,) Az a razult of tquation 10, Lt can bo seen that the plesoneteie head deccsaaea foc the aloped pac by ene e€tects of inst tere insite the Fadical in addition to the x tang, ters Oltside of the radical. ‘Thus the average Head decreas is a function Doth the Length and angle of the sloped Leach pid at vell as ite distance "-x" Ceo the Origin. “therefore, given either a range of Tengthe oe range of ‘lopes available, we can me & corcespending loge oc | Lengthy Eespectively to achieve an acceptable avecage head ceduction within the heap. Sompactson of tne _cheoreeteal donuies Finite Sleaont Result Ta otder 0 ascertain the range of slopes for Which Equation 10 Ls valid, finite elesont Iethod ‘ceoults weve genceated for comparative Mnalysis purposes..by ase ot the “star™ pease (Hef 1). |A finite elenent mesh for the analycis {s'shown dn Pigues 2. Alehough the FEM te theoretical ag well, te {2 widely utilized for the solution o€ problems of the type peesoseing fon-exacttolutions asd couplew boundary conditions. eoulte Ecom both the exact solution ( 10) and the appcorinate Hinite elenent solutionLEACH PAD LINER SELECTION FIGURE 1 HEAP LEACH DUMP ON SLOPED PAD WITH VERTICAL ACCRETION _—_ura-=son fn FIGURE 2 FINITE ELEMENT MESH UTILIZED FOR “SEEP* COMPUTER RESULTS4 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN foc threo aatecials vith difteriog Agoteopte eemoabilitise aca peeconted in Flguce ) aos function of the pad elope in percent, tor a 106 foot drainage length or. tots) pad videh of 200 fect A value of ho equal to I-foot wae arbiteartly amuned. re coWuiea indicate; shat equation 19 agrees Guite well. vith the finite cleseat nethod femuita. Tt Mould be noted howver that these fsmilte ate ‘only. valid €or the material pitaneters defined and a pad length of 100 feec, Considered. However, St wold be expected. that Sintlar results would be toalizec for other pad lengths and natarial parameters. Therefore, the evact solution which Lends itself to solutions With use-of a hand calculator gives almost ene Jane easults as the more sophisticated and. tine Consuaing Pinite. Element Method. Tha” wract folaetone, ‘arcuning the Ouputt. sesungtion ie Walid ‘ovce the evlatively “flat ‘slope range, Stouia “generatiy be acceptabie "for design Dergosea "provides "tne imhrcent,‘asunptions Pretonted St the beginning of the paper ave valle, a Opeintzation of Liner Selection i order to mininize the potential Losses of Pregnant process Liquia duet seepage through fhe pad liner it 1s necessary to eneuce. that the hydcaulic gradient acting on the liner te kept 0 an abcolute minimum, This ts Anpoctant, for olay #011 Linees of usual thictness between 12 inches and 24 inches and for very. thin synthetic Liners uavally between 0.03 inches and 0:08 inches thick. Since the hyteaulic geadione 1b directly proportional to" the Mydeawlle. head acting on the Liner, the hydraulic gcaaiext can be reduced by a cofresponding reduction of the eftective hydraulic head at the base of the ore heap insediately above tho Lnees, it has been shown (Bquation 10) that the hydraulic head is a function of four variables, rarely: © ove heap pecmeability © Leachate infiltration cate © bad alope © prainage paen tengen ‘Te pad slope and drainage path Length ara evo Exctore union mist be considered ducing the alte Selection stage of the pioject. it ahoule be possible to vary at least one of these four Yarlables In any design to ‘eluce the average hydraulic head on the pad Liner to. an acceptable value, AE the sinimum the dealnage path Length Gan. be controlled by the placement Of lox-cent Perforated corcugated drainage pipea at the base Of the heap. Thece drainaye measures are Felatively easy to design ard ineeall undec lov Reape. Protection of the pipes under high heaps ‘aust be taken Into account. once the Input parameters have been established, the Eleat step tn the opelaization process L513 detecaine the eatiaated avecage hydcoulic haxd Vaieh wild act on the pad Liner ore che input pacanetera hare been detecnired. Ls may de done by ceference to Equation 10 and Pigure 3 or sone typical values. ‘The next step is to determine the uantity of flow ‘ines of theough the Liner over the life of fhe Lasch operation. This total flow vill be a function of the Linge persesbility, hyéeauLic gradient on the Ler and total scee of pao. The additional seepage which my occur due to the afeace of partial satueation of the satucsl fol Linee o€ “aubyrage must be allowed foc ae Well. In this royerd Az Ls Layoctant to rote that there is a fairly rapid penetration of tne Wetting front through a natural clay Linee Tenediately after compaction at optimum noistuce content. This is dae to the suction pressures Within, tne unsatwested Liner ard the high Initial Aydeaulle gradients. Prevetting of a newly, consteucted aatural clay nec is Uhecetoce cecomended got only to prevent Gesiccation but also to enauce eaturation of the Minee prior to. the introduction of Leachate Aigata. Clay Linee perseabiiities ace nornally in che Fange of 109 a/eec 20 1010 a/sec. Although fynthetic ners are generally regarded 40 Gnpecvious, they ace ueually ascribed a finite permeability to seceunt fee itor sos Selicienctes and pisholes. A commonly soted Ligure of equivalent pecncabllicy for systhetle Ltsers [s 10°! n/sec to 10-% a/sec. costanone€it design Bante The folloving evanple illustrates the eptinization process for leich pad Line Selection aeing in sita bentonite noditication Gf the Local aaterial, Te thoold be ceneaneced Ghat every decign te atte speciéic and it is civisable to conpace « muabee of alternative patural and gynehetic liners in order te Getecnine vhich Will be the ost cost-effective. he bentonite modified material tas been chosen In this example because of Lte ability to change the hydeaulic conductivity of a soll material Gepending on the amount of bentonite mixes in. he process ix simolified sonevnat vith zynthatic liners as che permeability for ¢ well- Constructed and Anstalted synthetic. Liner cannot be aiteced and 1s comoniy asctibed the value for design purposes given in Section 3.0. Leuenate applic. nate: Pad slope: Leaching periods Uyears Liner ehdckne! 12 Inches Drainage path Lengtn: 100 fis Oce Heap ‘eeneability —— Lxl0- a/aee sd in the pregnant solution jo has ‘the total value of wich with be toot tnaLEACH PAD LINER SELECTION S11NS3u YaLNdWOO W34 ONY 0} NOLWNDA WOUS SLINS3Y 4O NOSIHWNOD € 3ynNdld 0 so peg Duet nos ou oo ¢ $3 ¢ 2 ¢ roe eg : “0sru, 01x19 D1 vonend3 won Lao. 04) woos Jags. uo pldle13 08 0- ™ . oN3937 1 001 ~ (368007 Hey eBeurma | 4,6 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN calculated based on a concentration of 1 ppm of gold ae a value of ¢10/gcom (9310/00). © Fron Biguce 3 and Equation 10, the average tyacauic head actiag on the Liner te 3 ft with the above Input parameters. Por this oil Lnec exapple, the variation in Linee peeneatility with diffecent proportions of bentonite has to be determined by Labseatory Reoting. For Ailasteazive pucposes sone typleal values ace shovn in Table 2. fable 1 of High-gcade Bentonite by Wetant a be 9? a ae 0 x 5 10-80 a dee s S197 a : Deh The cost of soll aaditication for the 19 illion equice foot area would then vacy IDecoeding to the patcentage of bentonite as Show in Table 2: apie 2 Bentonite Other ‘cone, cones “ee ee 1 5.5 et 02k 50 a ie a Lais,t00 3 16s a tlaisieso 4 20 4 1/323,000 5 7: a tya26,350 6 3.0 11530, 900 tthe othee soste shown above Include for placing, mixing, nolstase conditioning. Eommaction and shaping Of noditied soll Liner plus internal drainage pipes to provide a Brainage path length of 100 feet. ‘The consecuction costs assoclaced with cach Welue of Liner pernasbilfty can then be cnepared With the value af gold Lost in solution seepage Theowgh the Linee over tha A year Life of the heap eaching process as shown in Table 3. rage Liner Pecneability Construction value of venetie see ‘Goat (§) Gold U2eer Gs) Ratlo sx 10-9 011,250 3,500,000 mio? 1 y4as,100 97/200 35.1 5x 10719 1 /219,050 nigso 7.3 ax ior} 1/323,000 ero as Sx 10-19 — 1;426,950 uit La Axio-H 1,330,900 taco Ont average nead on Liner = 3 feet table 1 indicates tat, for this partiontar Txample, there te a aignitieane cost Nenotit by Goneetucting # Lines vith « pecnesbility of 1 x $o"l0"avece but that there 46 ro benetit co be gained. by reducing the permeability further to 2 io" eveec. conclusion ‘mais pape hes shown that the hydeaslle baad Seting on a letcy pad Liner is dependent oo pusber of factors, sone of whicn che Geotechaical engineet’ has control of and other Yactota which ace detecnined by metalbecgical process and geologic conditions sme ntercelationship of these factors 1s Zeteentned and a convenient sethod established for cbtoining the average value of hydcculic head on the liner. ‘The technique is valid for Yaclous types of synthetic and natural Linees ‘the total cost of 4 pad Liner has to be eviluceed over the total service Life of tho Ynees Tt bas been show that cost compact bare! on {nitial coastcuetion costs may noc Ecelect the final core at the end of the useful Ste of the ped, Because every Leach pad des! 1s site apecitic, the costvetfectiveness of a unter of inet optiors} using actual costa cor thse tite, can be evaluated and canked aczoraing mine ouner or operator Wil easy have ik the daformeten availa Tate a decision on the selection of the leach ped Linee. netecences 1. Dareany 3. te and Ha Sin Wong. waeere # Congutee ‘Peostan’” for Seepage | Anilys\¢ of STEEEREa rice Guetuce or eontined ‘stealy Flov" aiiStonputee "version, Second oleton, Vicginis Feiseecnets, tnsticute and Stace University Feoeaney 1985. and daniel K. Suméay evnoctess Bs By NGcoundrvater Hyécology and lydcoulics, paition, Water Resoucces Publications, 2977Chapter 2 ESIGN OF CHEMICALLY AMENDED SOUL LINERS, Mark E, saith, PE Gerald J. Glerszewski President and Vico President of Vector Engineering, inc. Nevada City, California (nico, “The purpose of this paper is to present a procedure used by the authore for evaluating aed éesigning soil liner syotems. This methoc le partiaularly valuatle in evaluating various treatment schemes fer chemically ended soll liners. A tabulation of laboratory test results on. various soil types are presented to quantify the effectiveness of eortaln trestrients. A typical liner design progran includes developing und proving. soil borrow dourees, designing the crose-section f the liner systen, developing onstruction specifications, ard providing conetruntion services to ensure the intended Prout ie achieved, Material Sourse Development, ‘The first step in designing # soll liner isto identity and evaluate suitable borrow sources within on feononieal heuloge range. This Is best done in a two- step spproeeh: a reconnaissance level investigation to enily target areas and « detailed evaluation of those targets. Reconnaissance: ‘The goal of the preliminary investigation is to locate potential borrow sources for liner quality soi. ‘This includes all netural materials which con be conpaeted, chemically treated, or otherwise wnended to siete an Installed permeability at or below some target Yaluec This requires ulilization of all available data coureess Soil Conservatien Serviee, BLN, acrial photos, USES geologic maps, ard project geologist records. The goal at this stege is to lozate shallow deposits of favorable soil types. “The Unified Soll Classification System provides on excellent fist pess grouping. Clays, clayey sands and Sills are the most favorable soll types, although silty Ssnds anid oxeasionally clayey gravels cnn nike exceliont Linors, and are often amenstie to chenical modification. ‘The lowest permesbilities are generally ecieved with CH, CL end MH soll ace preliminary targets have been identified using Missel examination, Ieboratory clacsifieation teste should be performed to further refine the selection. ‘Testing at this stage shoulé include gracation, plastiity and Iyérometer analyses. Additionally, "preg-rob" testing should be done as ently ax peastiol: Prog-rob is a phenomenon where gold or silver ions fn solution associate with the clay, of ether, minerals. hen thB oceurs a pertion of the gold or silver leached from the che is setually tled-up by the clay and thus & reduces recovery. Testing for this consists of oitating 2 small sample’ of the eoil ina solutlen costalning dissolved gold or sliver, preferably of similar chemical make-up as the solution whieh will contest the actual Tiner. ‘The solution and soll are assayed before and after agitation to determine loss to the lay. ay dite ian of tpl moe hg ee tate eS ae Saree Ree it tte Wat ees = fm Poe he 3 a rue rosea a oe cet Sastee Celt ce Mtayeeie’ saath Panera wera ae permeability is not as predictable as the effect of sr de Maer treet CE ee ae ae ee as Ce ee eee See ee ee ee ea soe te et ey te a scl i ea Be Sat te ate rte te ee a a eo a ed eae mr eae eae, en aren let ae Se Ry Dears ce, ean i ee ae pols ‘Source Development: ‘The sessll of the reconnaissarce evaluation should be en estimate of the relative probability of doveloping © suitable borrow source within an ezencmical heul Siatance. Of eourse, economical distance” depends on the degree of tandlirg and treatment the borrow nateriol requirar, af well as the cort of synthatio alternatives. ‘The porese of the detailed investigation fe to prove out fant. and quallty f-material sources, and determine ign parameters such as degree of compaction, mixing, treatment and thickness of liner. ‘The emphasis of the testing program should be permeability ard strength. strength becomes increesingly [important as the slope of the liner and the height of the henp increase. Permeatitity testing should evaluate the effects of comprction, water content, mixing and chemical treatment where oppropriate. | The effects sonpaction aed water content during compaction have one GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS UF HEAP LEAGH DESIGN permeability nave been well docunentea by ethers 0 ty End fs not Within the soope of this discussion. Mixing and chemically amending sols can have a strong effest on both strength and. permespilty. In ‘mony cases, marginal materials can be upgraded more fcononicelly than using Nigher quality but mere distant Sources, Additionally, some solls exhibit very favorable permeeblity cheracteristies Dut have low sheer strength Grrare difficult to construct. tn these esses, amending the borrow metetials can provide a superior quality liner. When murginal solls are eocountered, a testing progran Gesigned to evaluate modes sols should be exceuted. Lab Evaluation of Amended Soils: ‘Mere are three commonly used methods of upgrading permeability of solls: chemical additives; bentonite; end blending multiple borrow materials, The testingy evaluation and goal ef eech is the sane. The Narlables which should be evaluated Inthe laboratory ar Gegree of compectten; conpaction moisture contents rat for dosage cf adlitive; and effect cf the expected Teechate selution, An excellent discussion anf case history ls presented by van 29) Gold and silver leaching generally uses sodium qyinide solutions, and it is highly éesitalte to perforn the lab testing with a-dlnilnr elution, preferably ‘Obtained from the process plant. When these solutions fre not avellatie,,rearonable mock-ups can be made in the lab. ‘Compaction: Degree of conpaction, not void ratio, should be held constant while the effect of dosage is being Aatermined, Once the dosage has been optimized, the Gegrce of compaction een be varied at the optinized Gosoge. Varying the void ratio ts not a practical ‘tporoech, partieverly with tended or bentonite amended soils, and the void ratio is a funetion of mixing ratios ‘long with compaction energy. Also, compaction enerzy [5 ‘the most easily controlled variable in the fie, Moisture Content: Permeability ie highly dependent upon, compestion nolatures "The Towest pemesbty fs wutly aehoved {inet the sol, ts compteted at of near the optimun mnosture content, However, this Is not nesesariy the Correct Ind teriiog, molsttre content. Construction Soneltiensy tine ef year and. climate should be SSusilerad” Neturl, neleture content and workability Should igo be semioenad Sumner contruction fn ar Simutes makes optimum moisture dfalt to. eeneve Site highly plastic clays ean bo unweskate t igh hoisture contest. Therefore, Iti important 10 determine sensitivity to moisture content, ad reflect hi in the technical specifications, . ares Congestion mistare show be nel const rear opti, while optiniing the degree of’ fd deunge of ato of the aastiven. One the desire dSvoge sed Sonpecten are determine, olture content Should Se ward, subjective determinations shoud be ied of ue sie rarity st the rns mature contents tested, Hoo sajey sls have an appe Ile tbove whith the material eanotprastlaly be werked. ‘dcltive: ‘The primary gost of this testing program is to determine or optimiza the antaunt ane type of eadtive to be used, Frequently, sveral types of additives, uch 6s Dentenite and pelreleun resins or polymers, will be Considered In parallel, This can be quite expensive and fever) effort. shoul be made to quickly detemnine the oct eroncmical treatment early in the program. This Gan generally be ‘ecomplished wy mossuring hydraulic conietivity at standard degree of compaction ond fmoisture content for two dosages of each of the Crestnents considered, Interpolating these resuts (o the Lorget hydraulic conductivity can provide a budget Cette of the required treatment cost. | The most feconomie alternative Is then chosen ani the detailed testing completed. nee Design Four components comprise the liner design: thiskness and number of lifts, dosage or mixing, omprction and moisture ‘content, and borrow source uteri specifications. A thorough testing program leads {lo meaningful and reasonable censtrustion epecifivations. Linge Thiskne Except where regulatory criteria, the overall thickness snould be determined from Gonsirtetabilty: the ability to ensure a continuoys fmontrene of suitable thickness that post-construction etivities, such aa ore placemant, will rot rupture the Iiners Increasing thickness to reduce seepoge is generally not practical, Decressing permeability through Figher. compaction of treatment is usually more cost effect Factors. that effect the liner's integrity. include maximum particle size, subgrade preprration, overell and maximum slope, construction equipment, 8nd post- construction activities. Mexinum particle size of the finer materiel effects toth the mexinus allowable ift thickness and thevoverell liner theiness, A tree (3) hen Tift thicknese would not be prectical fo> soil containing four (@) inch gravel, Nor would m i2-ineb Sverall thickness be acceptable for such coarse material Tr both cases, the effective thickness would be ‘ENtstanttally reduced, Selecting allowable ie thickness End total thickness from mesicun particle size is ¢ itticatt tasky with little quantitative dete evallable, The ~ favthors have hed good experience using the following Guidelines: total thickness equal to about 10-12 times ho O58 passing size lift thickness equel to about tore Be tise) tinea the wx possing size, not to exceed e‘Snches: A minimum of two lifts is generally ‘ecepteble for soil without gravel, and three te four lifts for gravelly material, "Total thickness should not be Lese thot id inches, except for secendary, temporary or nom critical liners.DESIGN OF CHEMICALLY AMENDED SOIL LAYERS UNUER THICKNESS SFLECTION 88% Passing Minimun Liner No, of Lifts Size (Ir) __Thiekness (in) Requlred <2 2 2 ws a 3 1 u 3 12 6 3 2 u 4 >2 Not resenmended for primery ners, site grading also dictates the suitable tnor thickness. "A rough, Irregular subgrade surtace Leads’ to highly varladle ince thickness, which requires an Increased design thickness and nore rigorously quallty ‘control, Also, steeper and voriabie slopes nuke thickness Sontrol were ‘dificult, which should be reflected In the Sesign. Constrostlon equipment selection usually relates fo sige end timing of the project, and general terrain. Linet cesign should be appropriate for the anticipated or specified equipment, and special equipment avoided pestle, Post-construction activities can effect liner integrity wore then any other factor. End dunped high lite tunrof-mine heaps can result in extreme leading 05, boulders inpaet the soll. Adiitionally, some stacking scenerios eal for 200,000 poundeplus rubber tired loaders Operating directly on te liner. In these cases, a ‘Structural design sinllar to a high deflection roed design ‘should be considered. These ceses ey require an inproved subgrade, # higher degree of conection of the TYPICAL LINER Mix OestON OAT 7 linet of subgrade, Increased thickness, ond © gravel cover. Some chemical treatments cin improve shear Strength, which sotr to stabilize the liner or subgrade luer high loess Bnvironmental exposure my eso dictate design Extended perloce of direct exposure to weather can case desiseation erecting, erosion, or frost damage. High silt Solls ure mest prone to erasion and frost damage, while high dey leads to shrinkage cracking and damege from desiccation. In either case, chemical smendnent can linprove performance. Some ‘petroleum resins decrease ferocallity and frost heave. Latex surfece trealmonts eve. so Nad United sucess with erosion control, Chenisal treatment can also allow usage of lower clay contort scils, which are less subject to crying problems. Treatment Dosage: Results of laboratory permeability testing at various dosage lovels ot mixing ratios should make the dosage Selection obvious. "More often then net, this dacision based upon ‘economics, The permenbility coatinues to Grop «8 the dosage Inereases, tut at decreasing rates. Xt some point, either the target permeability is achieved or the incremental cost of treatment exceeds the Incremental selution savings. If permeeblitis lower than the terget can be achieved with ecoronieal treatment, this should be considered 6s an added factor of safety. ‘the specified dosage should always be stated as oth «minimum and average, Por the petroleum resins the authors have used, «typical dosage specification imight be an everege of 90 gullons per este per six Inch Tite, with a minimum of about 60 to 8) gellons. ‘The average Is determined from the laboratory testing progren, optimized for cost ard permeability, with & Contingency. added, ‘The required contingency’ depends Sipon the extensiveness of the geotechalcal evaluation, the variability af the bertow sols, and anticipated Conotruction protieme which will affect the control and Sniformity ef wading and mixing the chenical. A typisol Noutter" for projets the authors have designed is ebout fifty. percent. The minimum dosage 1s usually the average Lees half of the bulfer allowance. Compaction: Selection of the requited degree of compaction Is tito based “upen the Ieboratory testing. Generally, onpaction la seleated dazed on beth shear strength and permesbillty. A mininum shear atrengih will be required to ensure 4 stable systen, whicn will determine the nininum degree of compaction, Above this, permeability Will govern. As with treatment cosage, permfentaity will Continue to be reduced as compaction is leeransec. ‘Avalleble construction equipment. usually Units. the ‘maximun practieal compaction to stout 100 to 105 Percent of standerd Proctor. Lift thickness, terrain, tnd weather wil also linit compection. The compactive effort required, and thus the cost, is a poner function of the degree of compaction. Therefore, one should use ccuution when specifying compactions on the order of 10) percent or more.10 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN tn addition to minimun degree of cxmpecticny « range of allowable moisture contents shoul so’ be Spenified, This range can be estabhed in the Teroratory, tut. mist be tempered with construction Conditions,” Weather, natural moisture, water evellotility, Gnd workability at. high moisture ‘contents ust be Gtisidered.Workabilty ‘ean be inpreved Wy wing retting agent, or auefectent,"in the conection water, Jurtectants are conmoaly ‘availebie fron NL Industries, Awroy, Soil Stabilization Produets, anorg others, The Guthors neve not found any significant effect on permeability by use of such agents. ‘Treatment Type Purpese Increase strength and ‘workebiity of plaste sols by ‘aang sand. Blending Borrow Matorials 2 Reduce haulage costs by Blending bigh quality’ out distant. soils with closer, ‘marginal material. 3. Reduce susceptibility to shrinkage creching, frost Neave, fle. Chemiest 1. Reduce permeability of margin sols. | Increase strength or workability. Allow use of marginal Permeability tut strong. of Inighly workable soll in place of less desirable but lower permecbilty sol (eg. treat a Tocal clayey sand rather than Inport a highty plastic clay). Bentonite 1, Reduce permeability of marginal sols. 2. Apalieabte to wider range of Sell types than chemicct fanendnent. Usuelly a higher ‘ost treatrient, Material Specifications: To expedite construction quality control, specifications should be written in terms of inviex values wherever possible. A rigorous letoeatory. and (eld progenn etn Wentity specifienly what variation In ech ff theso parnmoters can be allowed without doteinentel ceffect on permeability or strength. Homever, budget and me constraints typically require « significant degree of estimation at this point. Previous reseerch (, 2) has developed guicelines for the most conmonly used tests. [Brodation and plasticity. THs cata, eantined with the Droject testing, can usually generate a workeble set of + Sheek of the var 3 AELATIONSHIP_OF PERMEABILITY To_ SOL CLASSIFICATION specifications, However, some direst testing of the engineering properties’ should te performed curing Senstrusion {fo ensure the desired project being delivered, Permeability Is usually the most important parameter, ax therefore the testing should emphasize {ns. In-place permeability is usually evaluated by one or more of the following methods. Bulk samples of the Gompscted ine ere excavated and renolded. in the boretory to the field density at the originally pleced molsture content, Falling or constent ead permenbilty tests are performed on the remolded specimens. Beokpresture sattration should be used to expedite Saturetion of the samples, Although the method éovs not measure in-place permonbilty directly, it is an excellent fons in eieterial properties, mainy and fdditive dosage. The major Limitations of testing Femolded speoiment ts the difference In soll structure. Compaction method dircely affects the structure, whish San have @ crematic effect upon the permesblity. The evantage of this method Is cost and timing, These tests Gen be performed in the laboratory at a nominal cost in few days, witheut interrupting constriction,TREATMENT EFrECTIVENESS OY {CLASSIFICATION Tie ‘A tore sccurete but also nore difficult method is to obtain undisturbes (Geass or Shelby tube) samples of the compacted soll and test in the leboratory. This provider a good mousiro of the permeability of the toil fatriz, but does not evaluate the effect of fahonogenelty, flssuring, or large particles. An lplace field test is Fequired to accurately cetermine the effect of suoh features. Research dene by Dantel () indicates thet laboretory Lesting of toth remolded and undisturbed ples underestimates actual permeability by a factor of Experimental Results. Table 1 presents some results of previous testing by the autnors, Chemical amencment. is emphasized, Including both a proprietory polymeric compound and fconman sodium ‘atbenate, A. detailed evaluntion ef Sodium carbonate is prevented by the US. Bursa of Mines Gh Nomdlspersive Cow sodium) clays tend. to Fespond quite favorably to this treatment, with Feduetions in permesbility of up to 3 ordors of magnitude. Howaver, US3M research Infieatos that the eduction in permeability ean be reverced by a few cycles Of metrary (or freeze/thaw. This generally. Hits Suitability’ to secondary or temporiry installment, Secondary liners under flexible membranes or subxrads treatment unser sol liners are eppropeiate applications of sodium cerbonate, The test data is presented in several graphical ferns (refer to figures 1 to 4). No strong relationshis hnave been developed between typical {eld control tests fd treatment effectiveness. Soll cleseficetion seems to yield the best relationship, This lack of correlation between index tests and treatment effectiveness increases the required labceatery testing needed to develop a dependable borrow source end reliable construction spesillaticns, Material specifications should reflect N OF CHEMICALLY AMENUED SOIL LAYERS “ Limite’ verted tn the Lob Plasticity (Atterberg Linits), molstiro-denslty relationship (compaction curve), iredation Including tydrometer, and eocaslenelly epecllé Brevy ee ine ines repre of coxa. Generali pecifle init can be placed on plasticity end gradation, while specific gravity anf compaction curve variations require a more autjective evaluation. Construction Guslity Contzal, ‘An approptlate construction testing and inspection ‘peogran inay be the moat Importont part ef the liner design. it Us certainly tne most dificult to spec emplete program consists of four parts material testing, platementicompaction testing, mixing and plecement Irspeetion, ond permeability testing, Material tating lx « straight forward prcoedura, but requires skilled field and laboratory personnel. Sampling methods and frequency have been developed by « nunber fof agencies (5, 6 1, &. Plecement ené compecticn testing is also relatively stesight forward. Inspection ‘worle, however, requires flld porcennel with a significant level of expetienee with the type of construction belig Undertaken. Inspection ineludes ‘observing placement procedures for uniformity in materials, moisture, and Sempection. —Midiag can be scconplished by several eens, Disking er windrowlng with a grader are Generally suitable to Uguld chemical additives. Mining of Scllds suen as bentonite oF multiple torrow materials mey Feglire the tse of a pug-mill or two step mixing. The Guthors have hed slates mixing multiple borrow soils, Such a highly plastic clays (CH) with silty sands (SM), With conventional construction equipment. This can be fachieved by first heuling the two soils to’ mixing area fard alternating trick Teads in the desired proportion, Pericdially, a lender Is used to mix the materials and Toad into another truck for haulage to the liner site (or the loader ean (rem the material Uf distance allows). Once the partlally mixed soll is spread, a isk or motor {Froder is deed to more uniformly blend the materials. TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS |y wast ORY DENSITY@ GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEAGI! DESIGN Controlling uniformity of mixing is the major quality control ‘challenge, In many lastences visual fontral can be the primary tool. However, this is enerelly Inadequate fer solution mixing or bending sols When aqueous chemieal treatment is je per area must be mentored at the water wagon. Control ls best achieved by requiring that the agent be of sufficient dilution that the entire moisture conditioning. ts done with the diuted treatment solutions, Nixing is. then controlled by rncnitering the soll molsture content before and after reaurent, and requiring @ uniform inereese In molature content. Dilution is determined by comparing the typed mount of water required on an area tesis versus the peoified average dosage. Several passes may be required to achiove the target cosoge. ‘the tending of yous can be munitored by sampling and (oning the mixed material. ‘Generally, particle alze 2h suse asthe controling prover. Depending upon Gre tepesvat ‘olla being mixed, uan of elther the percent pussies. 400 steve or the Dip may. be roquired Peatlchallys plastety index oF Iki Tink testing way be requir. . ‘Liner thickness should also te verified by the Inspectors, Visvel sontirmetion of uniformity slong with « Statistically significant nanber cf sotuel thickness easurenents ls fuleed. Otmervation and mensurenent Gf the treatment i'also's critical Item. Consateney fn Sosare and uniformity in misig are both essential to the integrity of the liner, sates tag. MUCpteDESIGN OF CHEMICALLY AMENDED SUIL LAYERS. 13 4 ® ECONOMIC _CRITERIA_FOR_DESIGN e PERMEABILITY SELECTION & ® ‘Apnenils=Refecences Lanbe, Ts Willem and Rodort ¥. Whitman, "Soil Mechanics", Wiley 1274, op. 241-114 Holtz, end Kovacs, "An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering’, Prentice Hall, 121, pp. 10-16). Danlely David By "Prediting Hytraulle Conductivity of Clay Liners", Journal of Geotechnicat Engineering, ASCE, Vol. IG, No, 2; Feds 1864, eps 215-00. ‘Agcy, MW, Wy and BP. Andrew, "Reduction of Seepege Loses From Cancls by Chemical Sealants", Us, Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation No, 684, 1988, Schultz, David W., "Field Studies of Liner Tnstellation Methed: at Lendfils and Surface Inpoundinents’, Project Summary, Doc. 1085, EPA SH 168, Spigaton, & dL, and M. Fe Kelley, “Geotechnical uatity’ Assurance. of Construction of Disposal Facilitiesty Project Summary, Mar. 198, EPA emgis-eeo80. ASM "Anni Hook of AST stant Pert a USBR "Earth Manual", US. Dept. of Interior, Water fand Power, 274. Yvan Zyly Dire, "Construction and tnveatigation of a City Heep Leach Pad", proceedings, Heep anc Dump Lerching, Practice Synposiun, SNE-AIME fall vy Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct 1A, 1983.Chapter 3 CCONPRESSION TESTING OF GEOMDGRANE SOTL INTERFACES Lawrence A. taneny Ph.Dsy PEs Sergent, Mausktes 6 Beckwith Ceacechateat Engineers, Tne, Vice President Phoesie, artzona = David Deathereges Pele Sergent, Mauskins & Beckwith Geocechiteal Engineeray Inc Project Engineer Phoente, Artzoea aasrnact Iatoratory testing prograsa wese con~ ucted to. Investigate the perforsunce under Cbeprestion Loading of several types of snd. geotextt les proposed. for Seen heap and dump Leach projects. Sm= Cheeie Liners ‘of goveral. thicknesses were wndvicked between representative subgrage felis ond cover mteriala, thus aodeling in Gre Laboratory, tha actual draealiaeion Conditions expected: "Performance vas Gveluated by” visual inepection end vecuun Eestings, Several testing procedures and Sqolpmnt sere used to” Aeveatignte the Sfeece of these tasting parameters on the predicted performances Gacnonbranes have gained videspread usage 2¢ protection Liners for damp and heap Leach factiities aescotated with the aining Anousery: Te eeasono include thels rela Eve econcey, availablity independent of project location, stability uncer a broad Tange o€ anvieonsantal conditions snd Apparent, though ot alvaye actual, e190 of Installations A geomeubrane Lastalied as a protective Liner baneath a Reap Leach plle {a sandwiched betveen an Underlying mbgrade soll and the overiy ing Teach ore. Tes pri mary function io to prevent the dovward fRigeation of the leaciste, and needa to be protected againot penetenthen- A minor of standard teats have boon developed and adopted to ensure the quality land consistency of ta geoncrorare material Standard procedures and testa bave also been developed to extablish the integrity of Deana required to connect Liner panels vhen Placed. Wovevery leas enphente bas been Bireceed tovare agseaaing the capaniliey of 4 given geovenbrane to remist puncturing Under servioe conditions: Geonerbranes are (expected to romain vatertight under long~ “era normal compreasive Loads an high ae 276) kPa (400 pot). Such service conditions 5 necessitate testing of Liner InstslLetLens prior to placonent to predict the response 0 the geomet ‘me objective of this paper La to aecerihe savers! Inhoratery test procedures thet have bean sad by the authors" lem to ‘aniat In the selection of a gecnmabrane for a partionar iratallation, “The ceate tn~ Yolve construction of a sodel Liner systea Givhin a sold and then applying the on Prenslye seceases anticipated te tepsct the Liner during ite wervice lite. The Key to the tout procedure is the uae of site specific aubgeade solla and Leach cre, a5 Std at apacitie geenembranes. Romilts of Testing involving severs1 geomenbranca and ‘geotexttlen condcted for fo projects are prosented. tawen sere oesten « seermNe A qronesbrate 4 one part of the Liner eyaten contracted for 4 heap of duep leach pide As chom in Yigure 1, the geonembrane fe placed bruvesn the undariying subgrade \d the overiying Leach ore+ Depseding on the chaxacterlatics of the subgrade (arain-alon distribution, angularity ané con Snack lon preparation } and the guomesbeane, a protective underLiner say be required ‘nia can bo a natural gaterial, wich as a Eine or sediun grained sand, of a geotex~ ells. Tes purpose is to prevent the Sven by the ssbyrader™ Siailarly) on Overliner of either natural or ircitictel suterials miy be required to prevent danage by the leach oa or equipment used to place the ores nach occu acy from f4ne grained crushed rock having a maxtmin particle slze ft the ofder of 245 cx (1 in) to run-ot-mine Fock containing boulders as large ae 120 cn (hee) in lamer ‘the design engineer's task tn to aetect tha most econamleal Liner systen for a given fet cf conditions that vill prevent the Leachate generated from passing through the Liners To postovm Chie taek, he requires16 GCOTECHINICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEAGH DESION icription of the aubgrace and loach ore, Jaowledgo of borrov sateriala within the project atte that can be stilized ts either an wndariner or overitner, the properties of aval lable goomsbranee a fost important, the service oonditiona impcoed ducing construction of the Liner tysten ta vell an during placamont of the eich ore. To sesiat tn thle teak, several latocetory teeting procedares have beet developed that inscrporate ite specific Prete | SCHEMATIC OF CONCEPTUAL, LINER DESIGN Naviablo Thlekness Leach Ova ‘Compacted Native Sait Variable Thickness materials and allow a varaty of aléforent Loading conditions to be applied to « aodel Liner system. TABORATORY TEST ProceDURES ‘Though Lt vould be most effective to poctorm £Ull~sctia field veate on prototype Liner systems, these ustally are prohial~ Biraly expensive during the dontge phace of a project. Several tons of ore anda neane St applying large pressures vould be re~ quired. Furcher, the ease of aelecting che conponents for a Liner aysten for a specific Project requires a aereening efor in Thus, Lt ke nore e€ective and economic 0 be able to conduct a series of anil! scale Wests using diffecent materials. Options het wilt hot provide the eaquired tagees of protection can be quickly identities Taree inboratory torte wore used to perforn the studies Seseribed heraine “Ai fre sintlar, in thet a prepocad inet ayaven fe constructed An a thick walled cylindrical wold. Typlomiy, @ representative mabgrade Ssesctet ia plachd in the Betton of the mold fina’ conpacted, foitoued by a reprtanest ive Sawpln of the latch ore The undorlinery 1€ S'20U, "san be ampected to the ested density by seacke or dymunic procedures: The oveeLiner, if @ aol, ta tassliy eapacted using static procedures bacause the full thickzans of the actual overlinor teypleatly te not used. In thia casa, the Argact of the everliner on the seomonbrane Sof snteraacs The leach ore wually te ot included in the eogely walece 45 ia ropoaad to use 4 geotextile or fabric ax ymamie loads con be applied — hich axe Intended to node fel conat~ [ona other options are available wien fosch eld, at deacribed below. Compaction Mold ror fine grained solia, a standard 250! 698 compaction mold can be’ used. The Alsenatora of tha cyliner, am indleated Ln Figure 2; Lilt tke vaetulnene to senda and Zine gravele. lowever, the authors have found it very wsofel for sereeting veversL potential Liner saterials vith « strimus of Sepense. Typleatly, the geonombrane Le Placed at the wane Level qo the top of the Bold and held in-place by the coblar exten Fon for the mld: FiGuRs 2 SCHRUATLC OF coMPACTTON HOLD EINER TESTING APPARATUS eaaiag Ram toa Pate [caosctionCOMPRESSION TESTING OF GEOMEMBRANE SOIL INTERFACES. Ww nolaive Density Hold For aolle and ores having a saxtnin fo atandard Gopicted in Figure 3» Tosting requlxes « Serger quantity of suterial, but like conpaction sold a large nunber of Gione are posaibie. ‘The guonenbra inchored at. the periuoter of the mold, and ike the compaction sold, fluid esnnct be rendily accomodated by the apparatua. rrowRe 9 SCHEMATIC OF RELATIVE DENSITY MOLD TUIMER TESTING AFPARATUS Load Piato 21.60m Diameter sem aach Ore Beotextio 49m ecm] Supgrade Pye nor a Large Dianater Proasurized Mold mecaune of the Unitations of the standira molds, the authors" fire developed 2 large dlaneter mld that can be pres Gueteed, a0 deploted In Pigure 4: Basidec Being larger {f scale, the device allows appLicetion of an effective overburcen Pressure by use of an inflatable rabber Bladder, and application of a hydroaeate Sp che chonters Ze was ortginally developed haltic concrete liners, but Nas [ed for testing geoneabranes. Gated for use alow the Lines. Initelly {nelated, these can be partially or ox pletely deflated after applicaticn of an overburden preagure to model soft rows An the subgrade or to create arenn of strese The eevice allows measurement of the quantity of seepage peasing through any Nolee that may develop tn the liner- Dacause of the aise of the device, repett— Clone dnvelving seepage seumuranent require ubstantial aetup tine Aa an alternetive procedure, only the goil or leach ore above the masbeane axe aaturated and presauriz 1A aye ta adind ve the water and paper Eeveling or « cloth La ued below the Genbeare to detact the location of points. ‘ripicar meerme BROGIAKS ng progreas Cor ewo projects axe ih the remuinéer of this paper to the uae of the above procedures te evaluate diftorent Liner aystona: Project Nitsa duap leach operstion involving Fun of-aine ore that vill be pisced co an leieate helght of 120m (400 ft)« Project Dist heap laach operation involving Cnished ore thet will be placed to an aeimace helghe of 25 a (80 fe}+ Proms 4 SCHEMATIC OF PRESSURIZED TLINIR TESTU APPARATUS Hydrost ‘Rubber siaacer oem Goomantrane looem T bee Project A pecauee of the helght (120 a) and parm fh Unis project, an overLiner vill be rye ia antelpated that boulders tn of fn (2 fe) maximum ize wil be Ghacdunged on the leach pedy requiring © Sv6-m (24 tn) of greater thicknens ove ner. Te native sotle at the alte aze predoatnantly atlty and clayey sands not8 - requ{sing an underliner, Thus, the testing proyran aldcensnd elactlon of an overliner Shere geonanbrane that would cealat the Static norral stresses induced by « 120 = (800 fe) phle, of about 2,200 PRA (320 pat). Sereeal poentble geonanheenes Gare conmidesed, inclaaing polyvine? Chloride (P7C), igh density polyethylene (DPE) and 4 compeaite nonvaven Folyproplore fabelc with a polyothylene laninate having Che trade name Gecneal- Saveral ehlsknena (of FG and MOPE ware Lncludea in the testing progras, But orly tvo thicknesses of Geo~ 1. Sanples of the goomabcenes were Shenined fom coven alftorent manufacturer dacluding the saze silty and clayey sand that will UnderiLe the geopembrare, mine Eallings and creoned ove fron other progect Operations; and crushed quartelte. Index propertice tor the natersais are Listed ia Table | and their grain-size diatribationa Be plotted In Figiee 5. Cenpariaon of this Gite indicates a selattvely vide verlety of muteciels was included in the testing pro- rane TABLE + IRIDEX PROPERTIES FOR PROJECT A ‘POLENTTAL OPERLINER MATERIALS ractctey 2am ae scene fatow nae inal tats Sebyeatoy watch es tre Thicknesnen c€ overLiner and mibyeace wore {oon (4 in) aad 5 ce (2 in}, respectively ‘Ax 80 KM (18,000-pound| force vas applied to the finer system thraigh an 21.6 cn (Bu5-L8) Slancter by 3-0 cm (1eS-in} eniok stack Place, resulting An an applied concact bteesa of 2/200 kPa (320 pai}. For exch teat, the vertical load van slowly spplted aed fold constant €or about 2 sinuten- Recor sntoading, tie geomebrane vas removed ‘ana vacuan cated to locate aay pinioten: GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN che goveral condition of th Liner vas also Fecobded, though the actual rusber of hole veg not counted eat Rewutte. Tent camulta are Listed Ls Fable fin exconding ordor of Liner enick~ hens: Sevoral conclusions relative to Sesien are epparent + re mine tatlings aro weed an an overliner, 4 20 ail HE Liner Dpatenely will edequecely verve fab a geonenbranes + xe crushed quastedte to used, 259 iL Ve Liner or a <0 nll HOPE, Liner Ja requlzed. + 10 eereoned ore ta uted, a 49 all HOPE Liner to requlseds XE native aoll ts used, a 40 at Wore Liner or a 45 ati Geoseal Alnor 4m required Teat reaulte involving the soll native to the project used as an overliner are, however aired. Paired samples of 30, 40 ‘and 50 nil PVC using native soll ex an Srerlieer indicated both passing and failing Geeta. PMs Leely (9 the result of the Reterogencity of te soll, with coarser sate flat reesiting in the fabling teste. With the exception of crumhed quarezite uscd in conjunction with @ 20 all PC Liner, Mii puncturta occurred f00 the top. Wo explandticn for tno Ealiure of this geoman~ brane from the bottos by the native soit subgende in offered, particularly since a1 Seoplee of 30 911 WC with he sane over Liner else Catled, but fron the top. ‘the renulte for 20 pil HVC in conjunc: eton with erushed quarteite rakse concerns shout the vellaity of the Casts using sine EetLings au an overitser: Te may be that the native sol. subgrade in chese testes tn all cates, vas a finer grained sazple of the Gicorial. tefere deciding on the use of & Bh ail BV¢ Liner, largor scale testing Would te recomended, including fold testing Envolving a typleal prepared subgcade~ usotuiness of « single and economic acreen= lng teot progcany but alvo {liustrate {25 Getietenciess Becavae of tie relatively Toaged, the reusles can bo akeved mative samples of soil ovever, the test progran does Sdentity, generally, the Maleations of Specific’ combinations of eateriain thet ace being considered nic qCOMPRESSION TESTING OF GEOMEMBRANE SOIL INTERFACES 9 ect ® equiced, provided the tench pad ar mee SGhcoliy graded. fo altel sersoning teat ‘hm native goile at this site tre proyean Uslng prototype ore senplee detec clayey and ality sande vith gone gravel Bined thet 430 ail iG Iiner could be usea StISa on prariove ‘evportonce with tei ae a) Seiteeie a beedsuare BRerialey if wan concluded vithost epecttie Tasting that an nderiiner ¥oulé not be FESUVTS OF COMPRESSION TESTS O8 POTENTIAL ‘MINER SYSTENS FOR PROJECT A Nontnat : Liner over mleknons Ceonambrane Wine Crush Tare (ells) Haterial euppler Tallinge — Quartsite Salt 23 we * ° ra er Per 2» we . P rs er - 2 we ce , re et - 2 we * . ne es * » we . . m pr wat, PB 0 we c ? ne et - 0 we > P me er - 30 Geoneat . P er rp er 4 we . ° arn? er wpa, “ we ° ® pr - « oes . P P ® “ wee : P Pe , 4 cnoveat r Fe a a ° so we a e Pe er e 50 we © e e er ora, P se wore . P ® ' e se wove ® > > ’ e se wore « P ’ e oo wore : e e ? 100 oo r P P ? Pe oreo: F = passeds no holes F = falled) at lest one piatol 1B penateated fron top: © = poneteatad from bottom: $= fwo fonts gave conciicting eomuite20 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEAGH DESIGN rroume 5 PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION cURVES U.S. STANDARD STEVE STZE 104100 #200 106; cushes 0. Pic -sz-3s EB | rience ah ang SS me sor ‘oP, SW-SM, + YU WS Ceagomerate 4 'S0,SW-3 Grain Oiamote in Milimeters Large Dianater Tests. After screening, sats on J0 mil PYC wore performed using the Liege Mlancter preavuriaad cylinder de aceited proviouwly. Native ality sand fron the project site utilized as the singrade was compacted to 4 relatively fire condl~ Elon, with gravel=sisnd or larger particles pushed into ehe oll sutelx. This peo Mas easentiaily the sane ao specitioa Eke leach pads A 10 om (4 An) ehickne Eine leach oF6 wat placed on Liner by damping. hn ovseburt 414 Pa (60 pol}, ropes fetal of ton repetitions: Teapecton of the Liners after tenting the Liner cemained an ropeated at a Leter date, ageiz ue the 30 mil FYE, but with a fluorescent 4 placod In €1uLd on top of the Liner and a Selow the Liners Tho purpoee wa pealtively detect punctures by aye. ‘Trough the teating extablished that a w wil WE Liner could be used, apecitic Fegulations required ee of = ainimim 40 ail Chick Liners he 30 ail Liner, ehough Serviceable, ver obviously impacted, having A tignificent number of dents trom above due to'the leech ore. There waa also a concern, 1 of prototype heap leach dusping proceduce aged to re wold reaule in segregation of particle aizes~ Typically, when diaped avn Rimlope, the largor pirticie eizes collected De'the bottom, directly above the liners In Stattiony a larger ore grind vas being con~ Sldered tor the prosects ‘tents With OvnrLinars. ‘To adére Eieorney & lines, renting progeas involving three table overliners end two oren wae condicted using the relative donalty test fis. The ores included a 1.6 om (2/8 in) Spon elroust product having 3-2 en (1 1/4 Ry waetmim particle atte, and a $.7 cn (2 74 In) open cireult progace having 4 10.2 eta inj puxtmun particle size. Overliners Greluded nonwoven polyPropy lane. goot xt having the trade nanar Fibcetex and Propax. Gruso” 200 ana 400 Pubratex (90 nil and 120COMPRESSION TESTING OF GEOMEMBRANE SOIL INTERFACES mL Utcknaee, reapscrively} and Deepen 4557 (ito mil) were sued Yor all toute, a co acted sand, processed from on-site material ea having 4 saximin particle alze of about Von (0/9 An}, was ned an the mubgeada. ho 2 reference, fow toato were condicted with fut the use of an overliners ‘teat Prcoadira, Toxea:wore conducted in tho irnex a0" dovcribed for Project Ay with the exception chat in overs cases the tpplied comproetive ocronaes vere cycied ten flees. Compressive atxesses of 435 and 530 koa (61 and 77 pat) wore used, repronent Cie ot anticipated fleid conditions. in addition, strenson of 725, 1090 ena 1455 hra (105, 186 and 211 pei) were also used to ‘tablish aa upper tosnd on the protective Shpabkiity of the geotentliee. Aftor teat Ingy the Lnecs vere reroved and vecwun teated to locate planoles- Tae ectua finber of holae vag not counted, but a sanoat vas recorded (feu, av= tthe geossabrane nocea: ment Remslte. Teat remults are Listed in Fible J. Ae had boon determined deeing the Sersening teats, the 40 pil PVC could be Used without an overliner for avaign pile Ihatghes of efther the fine or coarse ore Deplying 4 comprensioe atrena of 435 KPa (63 pri) Some darting of the Miner waa noted, Dat ie dic remin serviceable. tovever, When a preature of 1455 bPa (211 pal) was rod, the Liner vas penetrated in sany Pincce: The leach ore from thin project t= Felatively soft) in many Lnstences, the wore angular edges were crusted vtien rorcee Against the gsoornbrane. the harder grataa In the oe typicelly eaused the penetration. Several tends are apparent fron the test results a4 concerns the. guotexeiles: + me Grade 300 Fibretex provided joquate protection for compre sive etree gh aa. 725 Pa (105 pat) when fine ore vas used. An Snbutticlent nimber of Meee conducted to draw ® similar rea. jaquate protection for compres ive atessmen aa high a0. 1465 kDa (211 pat) when fine oce vas used, but only 435 KPa (63 pel) vbon coarse ore vas uted. + me trorex 4557 gootextite cite Provided edequata protection for Congreeaive atresees as Mah as ‘145 kPa (211 pail, but only $30 koa (97 pak) whan coarse ove van reas at ‘ame 3 REGUUTS OF COMPRESSION TESTS OM POTENTIAL OVERLINERS FOR PROJECT A the remults for ProPex 4557 wed tn ‘conjunction with the courte cre (llustrate She toportart. concern relative to using + Gonit wold for eating. Tho Linec eysten Ceated to 1090, ea (198 pel) passed, bur When tented 6 725 kPa (105 psi) faileds Siniiar conflicting zenulte ware mmcorded fren a teat presaure of 1445 kta (211 pel) on used. Thene inconsistencies ace Likely the renile of vartations in grain-size of the colatively snail ore ancples uned, and luiy aleo teflect the Infivence af epecific Tetger particles. Tae potential effect of Lneger particles could be accentuated by arching, or tranafer of atress to the larger Pecticles tea tenil dlamator mold. If the Selection Le celtieat to the project, tarts Involving a larger diameter eplinder, oF prototype Eleld tests, ehoula be perfocerd. Relative to this project, the test prosri fereabliched that any af the gootaxti ine Ceuta provide the desized peetection oven 4f Segregetion of the fine ore occurred during ausoing. trate hov relatively alaple iaborstory esting using standaca test eqaipeent Statguea for ether perposes fenrpaction and Feintive censlty tonting) can eotabioh Slolgn Maitationn tor Liner syatens i portlcslar, eeceening of aeveral youn Eittees soli overlinen (or enderiiners) and Glenitle everiinecs (or underiinere) coh Si "tecoopiusnea in sn ofEteLene and econonte fe ronults alao establish that these ere Linktations to using the & oquipeent, particularly where heteroqencoaGEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN golle or soils having large particte Alam ters are inclided. Careful eelection of representative sauples i required, and ral repetitions of individual tanta should be conducted. Af ono repetition roauite in poratration of the goonesbrane Laing eented, the liner yates should be conaidered suspect for Inmtallation. Te ia likely that if te occurs an a reoult of tho type of testing Geseribed hereiny st will alto happan inthe fselae Finally, the testing programs goneratiy represent the specific (Lela condition vf each oe and Liner ayoten already tn- place. Ie ts well known that placonent of toll overliner or leach ore en a grombrane Foqutres oarefal constrvation practices Howe Liner feliueea coeur daring initial con senuction, elther Because the liser was not Gesigned to vithstand the atresaes applied, for Anappropriate eqiipsent van used Cor spresding ened ox leach ore on the quora Brana. “Typically, these construceton cotaiie require careful considerstion dicing Gesign a vell as daring installation. ‘Te authors vould Like to express their appreciation to Nicholas J. La Prone, Janne RiiPahy and Anthony Hosta of. Sargent, Mauokine ¢ Beckwith, who performed many of ‘the compression tests, The authors al¥o wisn eo thank Gundle Lining Systess, ne-, Schlegel Lining Tachnalogy. Ines, Environ mintal Liners, ne. , The Cagle congany, Falco Linings, Tacs) National Sea Coopeny, wacor Saver Conpiny, Ine-y Crown-Zellerbach and Aaoco Febries Cenpany for providing ‘oaonbrane and quatextile sanplon for the Renting progeas-Chapier 4 YHACEUGAL DESiGH CONSIDEEALONS YOR THE IASEALLATION OF LEACH FAD LinEAS John B. Woteh, PE ravgoR TODDS) My, mesewemn mere Bes. dele de lageorres N°, 20900 J.D, Welsh and Assoctates ABSTRACT Heap lench pad Liners are important to leach operations for maxinizing ce- covery of fold bearing solutions ana minimizing potential environsental Tapacts. Liners must be desisned so thet. they can be bullt economically, but careful attention must be paid te the potential for liner damage during in- Staflation or placenent of ore on the Gospleted pada. ‘This paper sunnarizex field experience gained on several Leach pad construction projects in Nevada. Both soil and synthetic membrane instal- lations are discussed. Emphasis is placed on principles that should be con- Sidered during dewign to provide econom- feul and practical Leach pads. ELEMENTS OF HEAP LEACH PAD LINING sverEN Connon elenents for most heap Leach pad Lining srstens include a prepared fubgeade, a clay or aynthetic Liner, and a"iGachate colfection ayatan on top of the liners {f double Liners are required, ‘a leak detection system, usu- ally consisting of sand or gravel, is hormally placed between the liners. Tho Following paragraphs provide some deaign considerations Tor these coapon eLe- SUNGRADE PREPARATION Sites typicelly chosen for Leach pads are natural hillsides, alluvial fans, oF valleys havigu a netural slope ef one to eight percent. Because of the large areas involved, some onount of earthwork is required to reaove mounds and to backfill gullies, drainages and depreauions, The purpose of this work is to provide « surface chat will drain to the outside of the finished heap and ie suftletently uniform to install the Lining. With these objectives in mind, the denigner Lays cut a grading plan thet indicates the desired elevations, grades and contoura Cor the subgrade pret tion, Typleally, @ plan view showing the finiahed subgrade accompanied by Several cross-sections are provided by the designer for estimating quantities and for construction. The finished product i# uoueily not suitably accurave for either deternining quantities or for construction, and may rault in earth- Mork thet (e act eoaential te the per fornance of the Liner or the heap. Keep in sind that the areas are large compared with most civil engineer: ing projesta, and that differences of » feu inches over Uhis area can create large volunes of naterial. Specifying Unifora grades across Leach pads can be Very wasteful. A recommended alternative ix te aurvey a arid on the ground during Gesian to establish the actual natural fround ecevution at anch rid point Then, at each grid point, establish the anount of cut of {ill to be perforned ond provide this data to the contractor moderately sloping terrain, a grid {ng of 100 fe. haw boon Found to five reasonably accurate quantity esti- fates and (s ofose enough for the con- tractor to control the work. Closer grid Apneing Will improve quantity estimates but will interfere with the contraator’ equipment. Varying the finished grades from arid point to arid point will minisize farthwerk vhile atill providing drainage in the desired direction.24 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN Subgrade preparation La very depen- dent on the anture of the materials to be excavated and used as fll. Solle containing Large rocks ars difficult to finish to the degree necessary for receiving eithor a clay or aynthetic liner. “Overexoavation and backtill with suitable material for finishing is uauc ally required in rocky olla: however, this provision is frequently not made in the design A weotechnical investigation prior to layout and final design is very inportant to avoid aurprives and delays during construction, A ninisum of to backhoe test pita per 100 feet of heap leach pad mended to provide a reasonable catinate Of mubsurface conditions that may be Sneountered. LINER_SELECTION Althoush di frerent ‘mining oper- ations and Tegulatory agencies sonecinen have"set'philovophies cemnrdiag Liner type, the choice of material type and theiness in atill a matter of coat tn nowt gasea. The most commun aateriale for sinsle heap Leach pnd liners a S01. Liners (olay or ait), amended oil Uners, and high denaity polyethylene (anpey Soil liners are often used vhea a natural borrow source of clays or ai lea in available within an ecenonic haul distance of the pad. Requirements for aoil Liners include (1) low perneabi lity of the soil, (2) compatibility with the teach solutions, (3) 4 foundation with Low compressibility under the Lood imposed by the ore, and (4) placement on fairly low slope gradients to prevent oston of the liner during leaching. Construction constraints of soit Liners Include restrictions of placement during aubfreezing or reiny weather and Prevention of moisture loss and cracking during hot and dey periods Tf natural soils do not provide nultebly Low permeability, amendmenta Such as bentonite and polymers may be mixed Into local nolls to produne Liner materials. Labocatory testing and field touting are very important for design and control of soll-anended Liners Synthetic heap leach pad Linere may be constructed from a wide range of materiale; hovever, the accepted mining industry standard for synthetic Liners \n 1986 18 HOPE, ror a variety of rea fons that are beyond the scope of this paper. ‘The reaaining discussions Felated to synthetic liners in this Paper concern HDPE inatallations. ithe primary consideration for design of an HOPS liner i protection of the meabrane ‘con struction of or during place Bent of the ore for leaching. Protos. tion involves the selection of menbrane thickeas, providing bedding satersal beneath the liner, and providing cover aaterial over the Liners Bedding materials are usually either screened natural soils or geofab- rics, Cover materials are connonly Acreened natural soils, or crushed ore Placed inva singly layer of suitable thickness to provide puncture protection during placement (usually 12 to. 24 inches, depending on membrane thickness and type of equipment sed in placing the cover materials or in hauling over the cover duriag ore placement). ‘The gine ouner has a choice betueon placing his inveataent dollare in a heavier liner or in a number of layers of bedding and cover layers, Based on & hunber of economic comparisons for single-use pads, we believe that the best bet in ti the money in» heavier 1i ‘and relax the Fequirements for bedding and cover, Although this approach may result in Tcapital coat per aquare foot of pad, a heavier liner SAL uaually provide the flexibility co increase the height of ore that can be pinced on the heap and will provide a hisher level of confidence of linet integrity during operation. Placement of HOPE nembranes aust be closely coordinated with earthwork oper= ations such as subgrade preparations bedding placement, and cover placement. Synthetic Liners will concentrate runoft Froa fainatorms and of sion to Cin bedding surfaces.” We recommend that Hinor placement stare at the Lowest side of the pad tand in ponds and ditehes), then working upward with plucerent. Cover material placement should follow closely with completion of menbrane Uelding and inspection to reduce risk of Miner damage due to winds LEACHATE COLLECTION SYSTEM A leachate collection aysten ix a provision to transport pregsant Leach Solutions to the pregnant solution pend. These draina are placed on top of the Liner prior to placing the ore. Drning Weorstarcatiete rateINSTALLAION OF LEACH PAD LINERS bonewth the heaps get the solutions out [n'a controlled manner and serve te reduce hydraulic head over the liner. ay be constructed of graded nagredaten, perforated pipes, or both. Agricultural Drain System (AS) pipe ie CGonomical to purchase and install and fas been denonstrated vo work Under heap heights up to TS feet. Berea constructed beneath the Liner sid in the effectiveness of the drains and can aid in the isolation of solu- tions for assessment of recovery fron Jarlous locations in the heap during Speration. Born should be designed to be compatible with the Liner type selected and should be capable of being built with the sane types of equipnen that will be used to perform the exon ton and grading work for the project. CROTRCINICAL INVESTIGATION. Almost any competent engineer with civil, mining or metallurgical back- fround an lay out a reasonable heap Teach, facility with a topographic. m figvever, it ia alnost inpeasible to com plete the design for permitting and con- Struction unless a geotechnical investi- fntion Is performed. The cost of aub- Aeade preparation, bedding materials, Gover materials, and soil Lining maveri— als all depend on the nature and loce tion of soils. A prudent miner doesn't construct © mine until he knows vhere ha ore te Loca ‘A prudent engineer should not try to construct « heap Leach pad until an adequate geotecanical Investigation has been performed to deternine what Lies beneath the pad and Where his construction materials are going to be Located. 25Chapter 5 HEAP LEACH CONSTRUCTION OVER TAILINGS, LIMES oy Wiliam J, Atewootl Danes & Hoore. Golden, Colorado cart Gertty Terasgult Minerais apa Metals Inc. ‘olden, Coloraco Abstract Te davelopsent of gold Heap leach Projects in the Cripple Creek, Colerado, mining diated ot nas required utilization of heap leach pad sites other than relatively level natural Eround. This paper describes the construction Of 4 asp leach pad adequate to accornodate 907,000 tomes (1,000,000 2t) of ore over tne surface of a callings pond constructed during previous milling activities at the site, Based on the design paraneters and the observed Behavior to cate, tt naa been found feasible to construct a sajor heap Leach pile en the surface 9F @ Corvencional tail ings pond. rwrropucr1oN Dur ng operation of the Carlton MII from 1948 bo 1965, a series of three conventional tallings ponds were conszructed for che depo ‘attion ef gold mill tailings. The tailings were from a ‘lotation procrss, with an ore grind of approx tnavoly 70 porcent pasaing the No. 200 steve. “Tye tailings ponds were retained behind dans Gorstructed by conventional upstream Rethods using nine waste rock as starter dikes and ther apigoting the tailings from the crests Of the “isbantnents. Tho uppermost, (oldest) tailings pond uaa gelectes for the’ alte of a geld ore heap Leach operation, Evidence tnd! sates that this pond, vhicn 1s elasest to the 1, also had tailifes splgoted periodically Into’ 1 Ee upper end as the tailings surface slopes toth dounhi1l avay fron the dan and from the rear of the pond towards the dam. The Low ‘pot on the pond vas about 30m (100 ft) from the dam crest. The tailings dan 1s approximate- Ly 21 im (70 fe) high vith a dounstrean ace nel Ln ation of about 35°. ‘PROPOSED coNSTAUCTION TE cus prepased to construct the heap Leach on the “surface of the tallings pond as it vas aéJace ry. to a heap Leach pad and operating ponds conatr- Urted the previous year ane represented "e OF Jy relatively level ground of acequate size t einity. ar ‘The surface dimenatona of the tailings pond are spprotinacely 150 0 by 205 = (500 fe by B90 fe), "Paellitiea to be constructed on the Ealitngs pond Included the heap Leach pa and an SGerating pond with sufficient capacity to store the operating fluids, runoff from the 100-year ‘Stora; and complete heap desaturation. & prelisinary layout vas developed wbich placed fhe operating pond Insediately bening the erest ‘of the dam with the heap Leach pad occupying the fenaintng portion of the tailings pond sur~ face. In order co. convey pregnant solution to the operating pond, tne pad was to be Lined with san HOFE geoenorane, 2 number of In considering using the site geotechneal/elvil engineering | onsicered tneluding 1. Strength of the tatlings a3 related to the heap Leach pile slope angles ané Fate of loading: 2. Conprégasbility of the tailings as elated to the ultimate shape of the Setton af the pile, and how this vould Stfect prograst. solution recovery 3. How close te the existing tallings dam ‘could the heap leach pile be placed thle wainestaing dam stability. 4. Could operating ponds be conveniently Tocated at a lover elevation than the tee of the pile to alloy for gravity Flower prognanc solution from the Reap Teach pad Into the pond 5. Selection of a Liner that gould accon- Bodate tne" expecta! deflect ora CGeOTeciattcAL. EVALUATIONS In order te investigate the subaurrace conditions of the site, subsurface exploration ea perforned consisting of 8 drilled ang angled borings and 6 state (Outeh) cone Penstrometer, soundings. Based on the results of28 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN the borings and scundings, the depth and consis tency of the tailings were establishes. The depth of tatlings along the acis of the valley Beneath the leach pad variec fron I2.# to 2m (Ho fe to 66 ft). "Tha depth to ground water in the tallings ranged from 10 m to 1t-m (32.5 fe to Ub ft) at boring locaton, ‘The Standard Peretrat ion teat blow count data are shown on Figure 1, A eypical cone penetconeter sounding Jog ia presented on Figure 2. On Figure 3 are hove ‘the range, moan and extrese valuos of sounding tip resistances. Penetration Resistance (Blows per 0.905 Mie 9 5 0 1s tor Sh. se Zuomp ore. Be su coro F * Britta aan aes oat fame 1, ow com Ata ‘The shear strengen of the tallings sas evaluates oy seversl methods. Pocket penetro- moter ests were per orned on sanples ts they Were extracted fron the ground. In adeitiony Taborstory evaluations were made using direct shear tests and conpolldated undrained eriaxtat teats witn pore pressure Reasurenents, The in atu shear strengin was also evaluated from the Pesults of the sounding data using the relation ‘ship af a, = 9/18. Based onthe undrained tests, thi ohele strength ta the in-situ condi tlon was developed ad {3 shown on Figure a. Bases on coe canaolicated undratned triaxial tests with pore presaure measurenents, the effective stress. friction angle of the t3{t ings was found to be lis, and the tetal stress Fetetion angie was found to be 22" ~ifiié epee copys eaaronrn FIGURE 2, TYPICAL UTCH COME soUNDIN Loc FIGURE 3. RANGE OF souNDING DATA beHEAP LEACH GONSTRUCTION OVER TAILINGS SLIMES Undraines shear Steongth we m0 wo 200 ° Ggrem® of TSF os te 18 20 a Fo om zo Fo] ss 30 hy e (soe + Pact Pano See oerse ome FIGURE ae UUNDRAIHED SHEAR STRENGTH tm evaTRS ). These Lg ane, snow a faiely wide range of gradations, with Eines percentages fanging from approximately 2 to 4) percent. The sarples fron hespe IF and 28 gen rally show a cparser gradation than the 1H heap ‘angles. 5 7 |) one hests| 0 a 5 2 m0 Boos 89 6 36 36 or 28 om otGEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN 0 peer ® eer] ae rag i te __%e | | ta, Yo. jase 0 3 g “ iB i a worsfune’ cofrew!(%) (0) MOISTURE CONTENT DISTRIBUTION OF HEAP SAMPLES [PASSING FREQUENCY] ‘ Ee TE aera cE pm aey % Se ne a Zsofl tes “es ae -“lee 8 5 ee ia Sees Seek ae Sen ee PASSING *200 SIEVE (%) (b) FINES DISTRIBUTION OF HEAP SAMPLES frre 6, noms CHE ND ORE DESTIN HEP SHES by ocge ts assess he Sait flo cucae~ gushing or deaing Ucughte beap Wh nt vecelP ache tp tetas eit Seapoe Feenag cr G32 GTS See sitnses ARIES S008 RATES SSS ME gM NES Stn Cente lp ap a lc Ue Het Teoatare rotted ef This wee faet eel ee et ont tes pres SS Uieate ater Ur ailcheto's ison’ Matin ida the er” saree vt ane 1 GASES SESS “ie bettceee pl a eld ntnhatia Gene nes nor mene ah) tS fim SiR sci vith aeons" Geaue'the Hehe pt Liter ety cote e Satta, SRY SO Et Mita te Sion Plastic tubo inside the slots. Picsoneter tlp vos pointed to facilitate ceiving fthod used reculted in no perstration of the Of the plezoneter, “The plezometer tips vere Viner. Anctalled rear the top of the Leach pad Liner byINCREASING HEAP THICKNESSES AT ALLIGATOR RIDGE FIGURE 7. DRILLING AND TESTING SIREARY Aczer ceveral weeks fron the initiation of leaching no saturated zone was detected in any of the plezaneters in leach heap 12 (chom in Piguee 5). This indicates that the flow o£ solution. within the heap vas peinacily in a partially Saturated condition, with the potential for a Grail saturated zone above the Liner, vhich was not detected by the pieraveters (as the tips may have been several inches above the 1iner). tising a conservative maxim depth of satuca~ ton of 0c6'm (2t in), the hydraulic conductivity fof the heap mafecial vas estinated to be approxi rately 71x 10 * civ for a ceain spacing gt 24 te &.) and an application rate of 0.006 m"/he/ (0.0025 gpn/aq £t.). Drain cpacing fomlas were Seed co perfou this calculation Wicvhorter and Sunada, 197). ralling head tacts wore performed in theee of ate‘plesencters to ensuse tnt the plescmnters teeeFvorting properly and to estinate heop Miterlal hydcaulse cocictivity. The teat ceaults Treated that the piezmetere vere vocking Ptoo- deheneed the hyaeasl ic consocpiity of the heap fatetial wes approximately 10° cveec. Hydraulic Conductivities estinated fron return flow neaouced n tt heer, IE and other heaps over mpecitic tine negevabe ylelded values vangirg fron 1.4 to 7.2 x 10"? cx/ece. ‘he effect of consol {dation on the hydraulic conductivity of the heap matecial vas Investigated on earplea fon hase IP, 8 and IK by constant fend perveebLity beating at varying consolidation pressures vith a naximm pressuce of 138 k Pe. (20 paid. The resulting Qdraulic cenayctivities Panged fron 1.7 x 10~" to 11 x 10 * cu/sec. 8 ould be expected, the earples stow a slight Gecrease in iydrauic conductivities with consoli- dation. Cold aceaye vere performed on sarples fron Grill holes in heape IP, 1B and 1H in order to Investigate the varleticn in gold ancinte in Tenched areas of the heaps. the results indicated that the gold renaining in the heaps is fairly iniformly eisteibuted and that the leaching pro~ cess 1s perforning satiafectorily in the heap naterials Com pee ee) (a) RANGE OF GRADATIONS FRON ORILL HOLE SAMPLES ee ee (b) GRADATION FROM PERMEABILITY TEST SAMPLES FIGURE €. GEADATICHS FROM DRILL HOLE AND PERMEABILITY TES? SAYLESGEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN poi + meoucrennstiies arene |'pe sen nuzwin eco} 1 6700 6290. 4090 a anylieees er El resoueren ssurne ame a emaversaissimeon FIGURE 9, PLEZORNCTER DISTALLATION SUMMARYINCREASING HEAP THICKNESSES AT ALLIGATOR RIDGE nm LINER DESTIGATION asec! upon the doamentation of Incelco'e con eultants, the Phase 1 leach pad Liner consists of ‘aeproxinately 0.3. (22 4n,) of compacted silt. ‘The Liner material was obtained fron borrow areas eer the mine, and wan gonorally of low plasticity Gf fonplastic, ‘The specifications for Liner com ‘Skruction were that, the material be pleced and compacted in tvo 150 mm (6 in) Lifts to 90 per~ Gort of optinm Standard Proctor density. The Tinec nateriel was to contain at least 40 percent. {oy weight) o€ material passing the No. 200 sieve, Samples wero renoved fron the pads adjacent to cove heope dicing thie investigation. This Sncluded. three Shelby tube canples (75 mj 2 in. Lb.J« the sample Locations are chow in Piguce 3. "the laboratory investigation of the liner material included grain-size disteitutions, mois- Cote content maasuronents, pemeability testing, and chanical analyses. The cesults of these tests Were used to assess whether any of these chacac teristies would affect the perfomance of the Llper in providing » seopage barrier for the col~ ection of Leach colutions. Ca er) (o) GRADATION OF REPRESENTATIVE LINER MATERIAL. SAMPLES ppassine 200 SIEVE (4) (o) FINES DISTRIBUTION OF LINER SAMPLES FIGURE 10, GIADATION AND FINES DISTRIBUTION OF LINER SMHPLES o | lumen resr: wo Bos a tT 5 90 i 5 E 7 80 - # m 20 30 40, oe 3 rox 2] gee sai 15] ee +f 27 moy'te, nome 11, guacnp wor exe wo soisnee CCENCENT YEASIRENENTS FOR PAD waeRAL Figuce 10 eumarizes the orain-size distribu- tion testing of liner saterial samples. Fiaure 1Ole) shove the grain-eize distributions cf Borrow fares samples of materials used in tho Liner (infomation from consultant's cepoct) aleng with one sample from leech pad IL. These distributions {hdicate that tho Liner material is @ sandy silt, Ith the percentage of f4nes ranging fron apgroxi Tately 40°20 70 percent. Figure 10(b) sumarizos the fines testing of Liner samples fron the ur Face of pads 1B, Cy 2D, 18, and 1d, and tron Grill hole earples in heaps 1F and 1B. The per~ SEhtage of fines (or percent passing the to. 200 Sieve) from this testing cenged Econ approxinately $3 to 93 percent, with the majority of the semples Containing 4 0°78 percent fines. mucleor density’“gauge readings wore taken at selected Locations adjacent to heape. In a few instances the material at the toe of the heaps was Feroves to cbtain density and moisture content. Valves which are cepeecantation of the Lier 19 place, Figure 11 ahowa a plot of watec content Ger dry unit veloht Cor pad nateriel. The meas~ Uirenents shoved a vide variation in nolsture con"4 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN tente, and slightly lover densities than those neseuced during construction, nect Likely due to woithering of exposed portions of the Liner. Moisture contents of Liner samples fron drill roles in leach pade IF and 18 were measured in the eboretory. Theos values generally confimed the neasurenenits mde with the nuclear gauge, ard were Generally hisher than those valves measured outing Construction. ‘The hydeaulic conductivity of the Liner terial wes tasted using a consolidation apparatus on undisturbed samples cbtained fran Tener pads IP, 1B and IL. Pigure 12a) shovs the relationship batwoen hydcaulie conductivity and void ratio while Figure 12(o) shove the tydraulic conductivity range as a function of percent pass~ {ng the #200 sieve. ‘The Iydraulic conductivity of raterial cepresentative of¢the End Linge ranged {Eeom appeoninazely 2 x 10° to 8 x 10° cn/ees (ample fcam pad IL shown in Pigure 12), The values are within the range obtained from falling baad tests On borroy area soils (conducted during each pad decige). Although a decreace in hydraulic condictivity with increasing deraity vas seen fron the testing, the values of the Liner samples azpeared to be more dependent upon the percentage of fines in the sample (ee samples ‘rom pada IE and 1P in Figure 12). ‘the hydraulic conductivities obtained fron the Laboratory tests wete compared to those estinated Econ solution love measured at heap 1T during Teaching. By estinating the enount of solution Jost to evaporation and entrained in the heap, the anotnt of solution that did not return fron the heap could be related to a hydraulic conductivity valge, This value ranged fron approximately 2 x 10*'to 5 x 10° cavsecy depending upon the eve poraticn losses assumed over the leaching period. This estinated value is very close to the hydraulic conductivities measured in the labora tory. Tt must be noted, however, that ouch a ater balace epproach include nany uncertainties fand cannot be used as a sole basis for estimating tho hydraulic conductivity of clay liners. Assays for gold and cyanide were performed on Jlaner and subsoil samples from drill holes in heaps IF and 1B. These analyses were performed to investigate wbecher solution seeping thraugh tne Liner bad Left detectable anounte of gold er Cyanide, Peon the analyses, 20 percent of the Ckeplee that wore tected ud detectable arcunes of Gold, ranging Fron 0.03 to 4.09 g/tonne (0.001 to 6-131 oz/ton}. No cyanide values were detected. ‘hie vesting generally Indicated that economic Tosees through the Liner vas not significant and that the seepage did not contain ary cyanice. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS ‘he results of the investigation performed on the heap and liner materials indicated that the haps could be incransed In height in order to extend the Life of the Pace T exch acca, ‘the ove crushing and sgglanerstion used at the “ine appeared to provide a satiefactory ard unt- (Bes piliee for fesching. “the investigation fern etet chat the materlybed + celetively high iputeulic cenmusiesey 0? exec) vith ono alta characerioeica. ‘the investigation also indicated that the heap naterial extubited a alight, but ineigniicant, Gecrense in hydeaulic conauctivity and very Little Breakdam in particle size with consolidation. Besed upen these reeulte, additional lifts of heap Baterial ehould mot affect the Leaching charac Reristice of the existing leached seteril. ‘the compacted silt Liner foming the Leech pads to be performing caticfactorily. The fycaulic coniuctivgty of tye Liner appeared to be Af the ange of 10"° to 10" av/sec, ahd wes pei ‘marily dependent upon the percentage of fines Present in the Liner material. ‘me purpose of the Liner is te act as a beccier for the leach solutions, #0 tut the solutions are callected for gold recovery. ‘The Liner shauld, therefore, bo constructed to nininize the quantity Of veepage through it, The quantity of seepage Ehrough the Liner 4s dependent upon the hydraulic head of solution above the Liner, as well as the hydraulic conductivity of the liner. Fron the Hnvectigation, the heap saterial arpoars to be sutticiently pemeable to prevent significant saturated zones of solution fran forning stove the Liner, Therefore, large hydraulic heeds creating ‘a gealiont for flow theosgh the Liner were not expected to occur. nyizole coon vity with sncreeing genet a coomaet vty vith Anerensing density ox Noteiced overrden vereas. Rasieional 1108 of cap natecfal wesley therefore, coccense he Iiper tyoettic conaictiviy. the feunatien material Pepeatn the Liner appeared to be sutficlently cow ‘event that fhe Toaling of eaaitional heap Lites [ocid not cause enensbive settlennt and sbse- (are cracking’ of the Liner” Fran a physical characteristics standpoint, the units to the height of the heaps were size and ‘goaretry of the heap ateas, and the operational Festeictions of constructing the heape and inctal~ Sing the solution ayplicatitn Lines: thecefore, aafitional Lifts vith no height Linkcations except those of heap gecnetry were recomended. ‘he only recommended ceserictiens were that outside slopes Eetbenched to provide an overall miximim slope of 2.5. to 1 (horizontal to vertical) for slope sto Bility and runote control considerations. rmhose recennendations have generally been fol~ owed, with adjacent heaga joined with subsequent. Tires. “Moxinun heap heights exe currently on the ‘occer of 18 m (6) £t.). ‘The plysical perfomance Of the heape and Liner has been satisfactory. Che opect of aséitional heap Lifts that was asstssed was the efficlensy o€ gold cecovery in thick heap Tites. Tis aspect is addresced in a companion aver in this volume (uzyckt and Wanack, 1967).INCREASING HEAP THICKNESSES AT ALLIGATOR RIDGE 75 o7s- Sit Of £908, 2.8.9 £49, $288 i amor row d nema, sae Te on i gS eae eee a lee ada, —] rasame veas rere coaes a xoone) [hon — e : i wee HA g oe a om © Ho 2 = OHO + HoH @ HO + NOCH 2 3 = : L as oT we oF ne oe we PERMEABILITY (en/ete) (0) PERMEABILITY VERSUS VOID RATIO o- 3 awe : Zo a 10 10-8 os oe renncasnty (end) (b) PERMEABILITY VERSUS PERCENT PASSING 200 SIEVE Yicime 12, PoMeRRILEY Toe DORR, Lt MERA venues (2 oat nectar yas geize tio ih Ra earn aa ts ‘the results of this investigation shoved that inva? (95 and 102 pof) and moisture con Pepe pre r ee ee Goss re ele He te possi, Er, 8 tease the eight of 8 BEC Tyecper ie tte ws precious natal Lesch heap beyond cne Lift if the Ste and constructed Liner ace competent. Thic {nvestigation included field and labocetory tests. ‘Sime specific results and conclusions were:76 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN 4 There is very Missle butlt-up of leachate fon the pad for Khe legchate appl featicn Fate off 0.006 m/hc/et (0.0025 gpn/Et. ‘The estinated hydraulic conductivity o¢ the heap materials wes 1 to 7 x 10 cn/sec. (LL) Laboratory testo choved that the hydcaulic Conductivity of the heap material cecressed only slightly at higher confining pres- surge. lidraulic, conductivities of 3.7 x Io"! te 1etx 10"? wesc vere measured in the laboratory. (iv) Assays shoved that gold renaining in the heape wae fairly unifornly distributed. (wv) The Liner is constructed fron a silt, con taining 33 to 93 percent Eines. (0) the hydeaul le conductivity of represen; tive Liger camplee ranged fram 2x 10" to 8x 10 cavsec. These values were within tthe range obtained during design. The fydraulic conductivity of the Liner decreacet vith increased overburden stress bat 0 moce dependent upon percentage fines An the sample then overburden stress. (wii) Assays for gold and cyanide perfomed on the Liner raterial showed that no cyanide was present and thet 20 percent of the can ‘ les hal detectable anounts of gold. Acocincaers ‘he authors gratefully acknowledge the person nel of dnseleo Minerals, Inc. for their assistance En condicting this vork in 1982, their permission to publish this paper and their coments in Preparation of this paper. This dnvestigation was Performed walle the authors were engloyed by Stef fen, Robertson are Kirsten. Their permission to publish thece resulte ix gratefully ackaasledgad. REFEREES Ruzyckiy Acland Wonack, Rekey 1967) "Heap Leach Ing Recovery Rates vs. Heap Height, & case Study at Alligator Ridge Mine, Nevada," van Zyl (E.), SME Annual #eoting, Mewmocter, D.B.y and Sunada, D-K., 1977, Sroundva= ‘tex Miccoloay and Hwraulics, Water hescucce Riblications. +. Dettilly Jey and onack, RiAey 2984, Heap Leach~ ing Practice at Alligetor Ridge,” Au amd Aa 1 TeBe Hiskey (E3.), SNB-AIRE, pp. O21.Chapter 12 HEAP LEACHING RECOVERY RATES VS. HEAP MELGHTT A CASE STUOY AT ALLICATOR REDCE MINE, NEVADA tex Ruzyckt Engineer, BE Minerals Incerauttonal Ltd Reds Wowack Process Superintendent, anselco Hinerals Tne. ‘aimee the verlances Le crushing, agglosersting, he: Hfeatfon that have Over the past six years, 4.5 atllton tons (5.0 llton shore tone) of sold ore have been file a. heap leached at Ore te ‘eial and error led to effictent Leaching heap. practicea vhich have been used consiatently over heights of 20 = (66 fc). Recoveries from each the pent four yeara, Life ate deterstned through an extensive post-Leach deillieg program. the relationships Bin-onteten ben Between heap height, recovery rate, ore Figuce | consisted of Preparation, heap consteuction, ani leach solueten Tocatione, each Léentifted by sequential pplication ore discussed. GB, C.D, vest). The leach pad Liner te fly 30 ce (12 re) of ‘erxopucrton grede. The Liner was coastructed in thres 10 cx Gita Lites, each coapacted to 90 percent of ‘The Alligator Ridge Mise in White Pine optinus Standaed Procter danalty. All Iiner county, Mevada {ea foine venture of Anselco saterkal contained at least 4) welght percent ‘and the Norco Minerale Conpany, with ‘material capable of passing che No, 200 steve sicren-atzed sltet eed etltstone Heap lesehing and Processing comonced in the fall of 1980, Strce Eheny ever 4,3 stlLion conaes (5 million shore ons} of ore at an average grade of 3.1 g Au ger Eonne (0,091 o% per short ten) have doen treated by the heap leach carbon-adrorption seehod Leaching practices tave undergone auzerous changes tn an effort to optiaize gold recovery. Agglonerating techniques, Leschice solutfon pplication, aed heap construction methods have tees alteced co enhance extraction, Leach heaps, Rove renchad heignee of 0 (66 £¢) ae a rovult of a aultipie-itfe leaching proceduce. The Sffecee of the modified leaching practtcos and tncrenetag heap hetght on recevary rate have been carefully monitored via an extenst toa FeURE 1. Contour mip of the Teach Waser pad area showing the lay- Sciilteg progcan. The relationships between jacking practices, heap helghe, and recovery rate OC and dimensions of the fat wienaned eee Om me first lifts of ore en the p Teach heaps. ‘MeACHING PRACTECHS ALL heaps ae AIL constructed with the suse saterial tn the manner, To understand che meaning of the Recovery Rate ve. Heap Helahe curves, one ssc be auare of78 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN Iaggloners ting procedures. overview of the ore preparation saya leached prior £9 June of 1983. Three dtefecent product atzee of ~32 om (1.25 tn.) nd-=13 an (O05 tne) vere ce rechaiques were Ae AlLigacor Ridge of aggloserating che “19 product vith 30 Kg/tomne. (60 Ib/shert ton) water And 1,5 to 5.0 ke/tenne (3.0-10.0 lb/shore ton) of "This jtelda a physically stable, heap with a aptd geld extraction rate SO Teo 68 ee eae. bee snee 490 mene FIGURE 2. Summary of ore preparation details for leach heeps conpleted prior to dune 1983, ‘Heap construction fue alee udergone aa {ayortant evolution, Figure 3 ALlustrates. the differences between the tvo heap constructton chance that have been used ae Alligator Rlga. The fleet ore leached var placed onthe Line in Dette to the full height of the Reap (3-7 w)e Trucks end-duaped ore fron che back of the ramp ctor the uldth of the pad. A dose Ore eo £€ var dusped, Wien the eneire piace, the upper Js C10 fc) of saterial wae Elpped wlth t!ahask attache! te W caterpillar o-9L ‘The ripping elintsaced excess compaction of fore in the uppet level of the heap, but the degradation and consolidation due te equipaent felon renatned in the Lover Teaching comenc splayed unsatintactory tecoverien owing to reduced permeability and the foreation of Eines (nee Lene FIGURE 3. Comparison of heap construction Inethads used ot Alligator Ridge. The 111 effects of equtpaene compection vere greatly reduces by altertag Heap construction Bcehode. All 1ifes constructed of top of the Tiree hoape have been baile by erecting an access cramp Go the top of the extating heap, ohich he deen Leveled and ripped, Teucks cusp ore in rows ss the vidth Of the heap, A dozer pushes che fous together £0 prodece a Life 3 10-13 Fr) ta heighe, Existing hanp satertal {6 ripped ent prior to the placeent of each cou. THe aethod shields the fresh ove froa all forms of fequipment Eraffic cospaction. No permeability probiens have been encosncered since thie acans Cf ere, placenane was inetitutad, and recovery faces tiproved sigaificantly, The (teat he Treated vere leached 30 to 100 days before latsctory recoveries were achieved, Lists Constrected by the compaction free aethod require ely 15 80 £0 daya under Lanch. Leach solution waa applied to the first lee spritklers ata rate of 148 x 0025 gal/ata/eq ft). Usifora sed by th pcinclere #call ing"dve to Lradequate operachng pressures, plugged orifices, worn moving ps be ee foraution durtag sub-freering weather Tapulee aprintleea vere replaced vith pressure lated webbler-type sprinklers Late tn 1982. wobblers {aproved solution distribution. fet distribution coupled wich improved ore the selytion applicatton te double te 3<7 x10 > Lece/an m (0.005HEAP LEACHING RECOVERY RATES VS. HEAP HEIGHT 18 dOTEPL-LteT LEACEING Berly sine production plans at Alligator Aldge called for each of the turlve srigine! Leach pedi te de used only once, The Ov) oq ha (Ovll eg Bile) area available vould have acconedated two years production, at which tine another Te0 sq ke (0.39 sq tle) Leach sree van to be constructed. Tho hgh cost of pad contruction end space Hateattonn ta the mine area inaptred the concept of placing successive Lites on top of the original tea In the apeteg of 1962, the conmuleing Ctra of Steffen foverteon and Kiteven (SRK) vas, constestoned to examine the zeotechateal fens{biLity of plactag ore on the extsttng hs Gee conpanton paper tn thle volunc)« The seuty concluded that the pemeabilicy of both the Liner faterial and the Lenched ofe would decrease under jure of adéitional 11ft ew for The aile Liner fon satecial beneath £¢ were Judged couperent to withstand the additional loadteg. Succetatve Lf lesehing begen tm the 1982 production year. As hey grew in height, heaps vere Joined to inetease available {i ‘The Open ditctes Located betveen Jotned vere converted £9 covered draine. Thor, ® ‘and C Heap vere connected to creave BC ilcap, Diltcap end E Heap werged to form Df Heap, ete. Meaps BC and FG are already 20 a (66 ft) ehtck. Problems vith stability ant perneabiliey have Femained mininal and recovery tater on che smowt recently leached lifes were an acceptable 2.0 ="3.0 percent per day. Current plans call for the continuation of multiple Itfe lesching. Helghes In axcons of 20 m (66 ft) are not feacible bees of Linteations tn leach axe geonecty, puaping Capabilities, and access ranp construction, PosT-LEAGH DRILLING Precious necal recovery fron the ALligator Ridge Teach heaps Ls sonitoted In tup saya Pregrase solution flov tates and assaye provide rvcovery information whlch to utilized to dlacern when the eacectal utder spray Ie "Leached out". ‘he recoveries calcuLaeed {ros solution data, however, do not prectsely ceflect the extractions From the kop soat Life of saterial. Th underlying Lifts of previously leached ore skew solueton recovery deta n two vays. Cold valuea ot previously dissolved die to inadequate percolation oF oxidation are extracted {na Fecondary ssaner ar the tolution trickles through recovery. ‘an unpredictable fsahton. In order to got an ecurate recovery value for the aeat recenely Teached Life, tne heap i6 alloved to dry for 30 daye and then sampled with drill holes. The drill hetd/eatl recovery for the toprost lift. ‘the poae-each detlLing progeas te the for all anforsation presesced in this papers it fa a unique procedure in the heap Leaching sndustey bee hee Seen carried out on a regular haste at Alligator Ridge in the followtng nav The heap to de drilled 18 surveyed, Med-bench of the recently leached LiFe (a deverained and used to e+ nap of the areas Drill hole otter 30m (100 fe) centers. influence are construct fae (Lluterated tn Figure 4. The poinea to be Aeiited ace surveyed oneo the heap and eesked. 4. polygoral areas of influence FEIN te ove donatructed around drilt hole sites. A Stace aedel 7800 hydeaulle suger det uuased one Ds? conne (140 shore con) dual wheel pickup crock drills the staked potnee, Drilling fed sampling procesds in 1.5. (5.0 £0) thevenente foe depen within 1.5 5 (.0 #2) of the Leer, The dri] hole {0 continuously cased Eo prevent contaniaation of asaples by caving. The sasples are eplit, pulverized, and assayed for gold values by.stantaré fire and hoe cyanide Leach (HEL) eechel que rhe quincity of excractabie gole contatned wtentt'a Tite of new eacerial ds Geleulaced feo Shuther HCL assays and welehtomster readies he outcen venateing after leeching ave Gstecntned by conbiving potygonel axeas wth theie correeponding portmieach deft hole ount of gol cencatned in'the’priseota shoin 4a Figure 3 te the product80 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN of Anores denetty, ygonal arga, rectprocyl tat i (tonnefa’) ¥ jetty for tesched, feria) ae Altigetor Ridge ae measured 5y fucleer denmocater 4a approxiantely 0.6 eu a/tomne Ubis' ty ttfotore, ton); the eotal grave af gold fenaiaing. in'e layer of mntertai te the irons cotcatacd ia the peteotdes F{GUFE 5. Projection of @ polygonal area through an ore Vift. Grove Ba ETT TET Iw we FIGURE 6. Recovery Rate v5. Heep Hetont for Heaps FG, BC. and HI. Be R. * FIGURE 7. Recovery Rate v5. Heap Height for Heap AA. Recoveries vithin successive Lifts have beon tracked ar the heaps have decreased tn alavaeton. Individaal Ltfea are Jot (10-1) fe) thtek. The 15 w (5,0 £0) sampling tncerval permits for recovery calculations at a alniaum cf two points within each Ife, Yartatiore in recovery due t0 Uneven aclucion percolation and/or regtone of refractory ore can ve monitored by etedying the Grill hole data, The recovery rate at 4 specific height is calculated by dividing the recovery by the musber of days that the Ife uns leacheds A Recouory Rate ve. Keap Ketghe curve can then bo ploreeds [RECOVERY RATE va. HEAP HEIGHT CURVES The Recovery Race vs, Heap Height curves exoatee {ron Alligator Aidge post-leach heap detiling data fall taro tvo faatlies. Curves Mlaucrating the effects of the early modi ft- cattons im leaching. practle the ccacen for HI, 86, and ¥0 heaps sown tn Figure 6. Figure'7 presente « diagras for Heap AA, WMch was conacructed and leached {na sore tonetatent fashion. Recovery rate inforsation on Heap HI 4s the most complete of the early lifts. The behavior Of the flrat Life of aaterlal leached on Heap i Ih revealed by the {Acet elght potses on the carve, The Life vas 4.3 @ (14 ft) chick and langlonerated with water only. The recovery rate foe the bottom 2.7 ore wie lose thas 110 pereene per oxtesction cate Anereased t0°2.0 3 (5 &t) of ‘a ditece result of che fencountered in all inttial Bites: The Jack nf a Binding agent tn aggloneration coupled vith degradatton and weructton equipeent led to che ftines im the auadie of che ry Fecoverys Recovery rate Ln the second Lite ta gepreseate’ by pointe 9-11 on the graph. The untform perneablitty generated by leerationa {n agglenerating and construction techntquen aantfeeted ax # constant fate of cecavery of 113 ppd through the anette Ife. i {ive leached entforaly with recovery rate renaining between 144 and 1.8 Prd. The recovery race date for the (ese Lifes of Neapa Band C {4 incomplete. qualicativeHEAP LEACHING RECOVERY RATES VS. HEAP HEIGHT observations indicate behaviors teen te the first List of Heap K ‘were Ueeppoteetog ané heap stability ard permeability Tapreved leaching practices produced sat between 16 OF Heap 3. fae t0 alent 4,0 ppd win geen ae the heap rose {oan elevation above 10 m (33 £8). The ners tes prodsbly due to Life B-4 being composed of ore that wae both Lover in grade ant sore highly oeldtzed then that. treated on previous Lifts Subsequent fen returned precious aetal values at Faces between 2-3 and 2.6 ppd. ‘The curve for Heap FG contains « aumber of noticable pertuckatione. First Life date te agate Tncospleter, The aecoed Ife losehed uniforaly se just under 1.0 ppd, The recovery rate Jumped to 340 ppd on he third Life, This trevease CSreatponded to the replacesant of the impulse Unklere by the preanure regulated wobblers. He golutlon aplication rate on FO-3 was twice Shae de hae deon on che prior Lift and extraction rate increased accordingly. Fourth tft cecovery Atopped alighely to 2.6 ppé. Recovery from the firth Life fell ee 2.0 ppd because Le cone! Gnusually vetractory savertal. Surprisingly, exeractien fate for Heap FO reached ite highest Value to date on the sizth Lift leacked. Highly cxldteed ore wax Largely responsible for the rapté recovery The Recovery Hate vas Heap Height curves for Heaps HE, HC, and FG all display the unexpected Hecture of recovery rate hich tneressa with fncteasing elevations, Rate of recovery ohould theoretiesily decrease wich increasieg. thickness for two reasons. First, percolating through 4 Life of freah ore 1s sloved [ovony by the intted penseabiltey of the produce under Leack, but alse by che permeability Of all Lifts below ic. This etfect 1p furcher egravated by a decreage {0 persesb{lity in the Tower regton of che heap due’ to compaction from the additional Lffte. the other tine Lag {7 fecovery ds created by the necessity of Teeaturatiog underlying Liree before pregeanc olution can begin to flov fron the bocton of the The heaps dkscussed co this potne deviated from the {gent aosel for a number of reasons. due co. Lovee heap, ‘conpace on a Sugetftesae chenges tn ore grade ane Leacnatiltty becveen successive L1fes algo produced unexpected trends fm the curves Heap AA was created under sore conetstent conditions and ite Recovery kate ve. Heap Height Corve approaches that af che Ideal acdel. Ore teeated on thie area une Leached in five) Gucccusive Lifts over a lea moreh period. The Vartacions in crushing, aggloseracirg, Construction, and solution application ween in or other heaps were not present in the Lifte leached Ok. AL! ore leached vas reusenaely Regus, verytng a maxisus of 13E tn HCL eked at a rapid rate from the firae tvs Lift, if 650 ppd were hecely double any tecorery tates obtalued from Dthee heepes Abave the Sl m (20 ft) Tevel, the Geeraction face dropped to 3.0 pds fost-leach AHLILLng for the upperaoae Life te wcll betng ications are thi 5 = 3 pode fesovery cate stabilized at concussroNs Ja leached tn multiple Ifes produce recovery Race vas Heep Height curves that trend toverda conazant recovery rates Increantng thickness. The heaps carly alne Life shoved poor recovery rates Ln Che Uteat LLfee becauve of poms Crushing, agglomeracing, construct Solution application methods were aodi¢ied co he probleae and recovery rates Welwes which have ronaleed reasonably dd Creates under ot produced excellent rates of extraction 18 the [ntelat Mees. Recovery rate declined ae the Hep tose but atabitieed at 2.5~ 3.0 ppd. fy combining the free Life behavior of tes aa uth information from the upper lifts of HI, that recovery rate fron es dependent upon heap hetgne only in the levese pore ‘a suletple Mee heap. Heap perseabtlicy 10 at a maxioun ta the first Life leached and recovery race £8 Addielonal 1Lfee soopace uederlying aatertal and fecevery cate dimintshess When a height of 1B (20 £0) 4 ateatned, Lever heap ‘ninteua valve. This fe adequate Leach solution stant seder all retatn at Least 207 foteture between Leaching cycles, mull ttying in recovery rate dsseciaced with reuratton.. Precious etal recovery rates Ghetefore stable Ln the range of 2.0 3.0 ppd weigher up to 20= (66 C0). Ailigetor Bdge ore Multtple Life heap Leaching has proven co be a viable meane of extracting gold at the Unligseor tidge Hives, Lesehing to hls manner tot only overcave Ltsizations ta leach space, but Mise ellateated costs tasoctaced vith vehanditeg leached ore. Recovery rates fron addietonal lifes are axpected to be acceptable and the rch geiiifag.geogran vill continue €0 be Goce to crack heap eecovery behavior. evenences Desull, T+ Jo, and Womack, Rs hey 1969)" Leaching Practices at AiLtgacor Ridge," Preneatationat SHE-AIME Fall Meeting, Heap nd Dump Leaching.a2 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN 1982) *tacceasing Auigetor tidge: Project for Aavelco Mlverals tac."Aa Alligator Fldge mine, 65, 77, ‘Ammsalco Minerals, In, 65, 77 ‘Areas of Influence, polygonal, 79, ‘Attwooll, W.l., 27 B Beck, RV. 1 Bonofit-cost dosign, 4 Bentonite permeability, marginal soils, 10 proportions of, 6 Blending borrow materials, 10 Blow count date, 26 Borehole inclinameter, data, 32 Bowl shaped ore pad, 38, Bucktiorn mine, 35 c Cartin, NV, Buckhorn mine, $5 Cariin‘type deposit, 77 Gariton mil, 27 Gement, agglomerating with, 55 Chemical analyses, pads, 67 Classification dry, wet sieve, €0 ‘sols, 10 ‘sts, agglomerated ore, 58 Clay liner materials, 35 Colorado, ripple Creek, 27, 41 Compaction ‘agglemorated oro, $7 ASTM mold, 18 ‘chemically émonded soil liners, 8 Compression potential liner systems, 19 tailings, 27 testing. geomembrane-soll intertace, 15 Computers Yanbu method of slices, 52 resulls, SEEP, 3 Consolidated-undralned triaxial tasts, 61 83 INDEX Consolidation ‘Alllgater Ridge tocting, 87 tallings, test data, 29 Censtruction Alligator Ridgo, 68 quallty contro}, liners, 11 steeply sloping ground, pacs on, 41 Contact friction angles, 36 Gost-benetit design, 4 ripple Greak and Victor Mining Go, 41 Cripple Crook, CO, 27, 41 Crushing, Alligator Plége, 78 D Deatherage, J.0., 15,45 Dansity dey, parmoabillty taste, 62 in-place, Alligator Aldge, 67 maximum dry, 11 mold, relative, 17 Design’ ‘chemically amended soll ners, 7 considerations, leach pad liners, 23, ‘cost benefit, 6 Hiner system, 15 pad over tailings slimes, 29 ‘slope stabilty in, 23 Dikes, 33 Direct shear testing, 48 Dosage, treatment, 9 Double layer systems, 34 Drain pipes, slotted, 05, Drainage path lanath, 4 Driline. See Polyolefin copolymer. Drill hole sampias, gradations, 71 orliting Alligator Ridge, 73 Alligator Ridge, 67 postleach, Alligator Ridge, 72 Driving forces, 51 Dry donsity, 14 Ory sieve, 60 Dutch cone sounding to, 28, E East, D.A.184 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN Economic criteria, design, 13, End dumping, 85 Engineering properties, agglomerated ore, 55 Equipment, test, 46 Factor of safety ‘computer heap mass, 63 solbliner friction angla, 46 Fahy, JR, 45 Fallure modes, 97 Feasiblilty, heap thickness, 65, Fleld investigation, aggiomerated ore, 55, Fines distribution, hoaps, 70 Finite element results, 2 Flat base ore pad, 38, Flow, theory of, 1 Foundation materia Friction angles 35 Interface, 35, Hiner, 53 solFliner, 48 Geology, Buckhorn, 85, Geomembranes materials for, 81 shear testing, soll Interfaces, 45 soil interface, 15 Goometries basic, heep, 95, ‘ore neap, 52 Geoseal. See Polyethyslene membrane. Geotechnical investigation ‘agglomerated ore, 55 Cripple Creak leach site, 27 prior to loach pad installation, 25 Geotertile layer, 43, Gerity, C.,27 Glerszewski, G.J.,7 Gold agglomerated ore, 58 Alligator Ridge, 65, 77 Cripple Crosk project, 27, 44 low-grade, heap leaching, 39 valiey-Iil heap leaches, 51 Gradation curves, 59 Gradations, drill holo camplos, 60 Grain size, Alligator Ridge analyses, 69 H Hallo, 4P., 4 Hansen, LA, 15, 45 jaliner, high denalty, Heap leaching ‘agglomerated ore In, 55 design, slope stabiliy in, 23 Increasing thickness, @5' ‘mass instabilty, 51 vor tallings slimes, 27 pad liner system, 23. fecovery v8, heap height, 77 Height, neap, Alligator Ridge, 77 Hiydraulle integrlty, liners, 30 Improvements, heap stability, 96 In-place permeabilty, 61 Inelinometer data, borehole, 32 Index properties, ovediners, 18 Index tests, pads, 67 Infiltctlon rata, leachate, 4 Installation, leach pade liners, 28 Interfaces ‘geomembrane-soll, 15 ‘shear tasting, geomambrane-soll, 45 ‘strengths, 33 Janbu meted of slices, 62 K Kinard, 0.7.55 Laboratory testing ‘agglomerated oF eomembrane selection, 15 shear strongth, geomembrane-scil interfaces, 45 soll permeability, 3 Layout Alligator Ridge, 86 operating pond, 32 Leach, J.A., 30 Leachate ‘collection sys! Inflitation eato, 4 Leaching ‘agglomerated ore in heap, $5 Installing pad liners, 23. ‘mass Instabilty, over talings shes, 27 24 51» INDEX pad linar selection, 1 ade on steeply sloping ground, 41 Fecovery vs. heap height, 77 slope stablilty In design, 33 Lifts, ore, 77 Lime, agglomerating with, 55 Liners: ‘chemically amerfded soll, 7 ‘gradation, finoe distribution, 73 Installing teach pad, 23 ‘materials, heap, 33 ‘election, 1 system design, testing, 15 systems for low {rlotion angles, 81 Log pormeablity, 62 Nass instatility, heap leaching, 61 aterials ‘characterization , linars, 45, ‘goomembranes, 18 Properties, liners, 51 source development, 7 Membrane, geosynthetic, 3 ‘Mohr diagram, 68 Moisture ‘content soll liners, 8 measurements, Aliigator Ridge, 69 old ‘ASTM compaction, 16 large diameter prossurlzed, 17 relative density, 17 Multipietitt leaching, 73 Nerco Minerals Co.. 77 Nevada, Alligator Ridge mino, 65, 77 Nuclear density gage, 69 ° Ocoidental Minerals, Inc.,65, (Open pit, Alligator Ridge, 65, 77 Optimization technology, 1 oF heap cross section, 52 permeability, heap, 4 Strength velves, 34 Overburden stresses, 67 Overliner materials, 18 05 P Pads ‘Alligator Aldge testing, 87 contour map, Alligator Ridge, 77 Installing leach tins, 23, Iinor selection, 4 ‘on steeply aloping ground, 41 Particle size distribution curves, 20 Penetration testing, 67 Permeability ‘agglomerated oro, 58 Alligator Ridge testing, 87 ‘pra heap, 4 ve, soll classification, 19 Plezometers, Alligator Ridge, 67 Polyathalane, high dansity (HOPE), 42,51 Polyothalone membrane (Geoseal, 45 Polygonal areas of Influence, 72 Polyoietin copolymer.(Orline), 45 Pelypropylen fabric, 25 Polyvinyl chloride (PVO), 45,51 regsure measurements, O1 Procedures, test, 40 Production, full, pad, 43 Proportios 4 ‘engineering, agglomorated ore, $5 overliner materats, 16 PVC. See Polyvinyl chloride. - Q Quality control, construction, 11 R Reconnaissance, 7 Recovery rales, Alligator Ridge, 77 Remoléed permeability, 62 Resisting forces, 51 Ruzyckl, A, 77 Schwalzer, AA.,55 SEP program, 2 Selection liners, 1 ‘soll Iinars, 2486 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HEAP LEACH DESIGN Sottiements, computed, 51 Shaver, Shear testing geomembrane-soll Interfaces, 45 Slave, dry, wat, 60, Silver low-grade, heap leaching, 33 valley. heap feacing, 51 Single tinor ayetorn, 33, Sliding surfaces, potential, 35, Slope stabiilty leach design, 33 30 angie, ore, 53 ground, angle, 48 steep, leach pads on, 41 thaory of flow on pad, 1 Slotted drain pipas, 65 ‘Smith, M.E,,7 Soll ‘chemically amended, 7 ‘geomembrane Interface, 16 ‘Shear testing geomembrane interfaces, 45 Sounding data, 28, Stability ore heap analysis, 52 ads on steeply sloping ground, 41 tailings dam, 27 slope in heap teach design, 33, over tailings slimes, 20 Steffen Robertson and Kirsten, 79 Strachan, C, 65 Strength agglomerated ore, 58 tallings, 27 values, liners, 24 ‘Subgrade praparation, 23 Tallingo, leaching over, 27, Tape, R.7., 33, 51 Tapp. A, at Tost pita, 68 Testing ‘geomembrane-soil interface, 15 liner system cosign, 15 wot, dry sleve, 60 Thickness ‘chemically amended soll iners, 8 Increasing heap, 65 Topography, liner over tallings, 31 Treatmant dosage, liners, 9 Trlaxlal taste, 61 Triple liner systems, 34 u Ynconsolldiad uncralnes Wx! toot, Upstream dike siove, OB Bureau of Mis (USO, 5 v Vatigy-tll heap teaches, 51 van ZyltD., Hi, 85 Victor,CO, 65 Ww Woight moasuromente, 69 Welsh, J.D, 23, Womack, RA. 77/ ENGINEERED SYNTHETIC PRODUCTS, INC. TATING:tenl4 y constiuccioNs A Aedosd C400 598 Peo. Pim mo 18 Pe T&T Rae fe Foe 0051-7) 7 Drainage Product Description Sheet TRANSNET 160 ‘Transnet 160 is « superior quality drainage media made by extruding two sets of HDPE strands together to form a diamond shaped net. This three dimensional structure provides excellent plana liquid fow. The Transnct 160 ‘conforms tothe physical property valucs listed below, NET PROPERTY | TEST METHOD UNITS MARY. Minimum Average ! Roll Value Weight ASTM D-5261 Iosif? ON? ‘Thickness ASTM D-5199 inches 160 Density of Polymer ASTM D-1505 g/cm? 0.940 Tensile Strength ASTM D-5035 Ibsiin, 30 Porosity % nom 80 Carbon Black ASTM D-1603 % z Content Transmissivity ASTM D-4716 mis 1x10 * Temanishiny mena sing ate a 20 Deere C6 dere Fuh a padiat foc, between be Hel plas ae | hour, Vahey vey tact dines trey meinen mci bene / 1s infra soni eens ten comply Enger Syeda ne. wd tat We ef an nowy ww wo sexume Al segeions te esareneitions wt ofted wou rei Fraldeewnalen of aay feos eos oy iernaton pe, tele espnsliy fhe ue. Thee bape er epened wary at mentsny osc be Dt orb eteTa NetNaIA ¥ CousaUCCION EA, : ‘vcdons Gove 36200: ee lima 1@- Pero ya Ss 2 agru america Linear Low Density, PotveTHYLENE SmooTH SHEET Product Data (Minimum Average Roll Values) Osa) eur) REE Thickness (1ils nominal) ASTM D5199. ¥ 4” to 0 100 MaltFiow Inox, max, (0 miuloe) ASTM D120 E 5 5 5 5 Denslty (gm? min) Asti o7ee rr en) Tensile Strength al Break (bs/in. width) ASTM D638 (Modilied)Type IV Specimen 160 240 320 400 longatton at Break (2) Gauge Length, 2in. break, 2pm 0 600 B00 ear Resistance is) ASTM D1004 Dio ¢ ae oT 6 Puncture Reslstance (| FTMS 101 -©, Method 2065 © © Ww 10 Puncture Resistance (tbs) ASTM D 4633, 0 100 190 160 Carbon Black Content (%) / ASTN D1603 2-9 23 2-3 2-3 Carbon Black Dleporelon éategory ASTM 05596 42 12 12 42 Supply Information (standard Roll Dimensions) ory fo i [reilly 100 5 SRO BOB AGAIN SING AMIS (SEAN | a ) aon 1983 e eh Ngoe7 gaat 6 5,628 523 2.995 1313 Wares: 1) Ato are xexplecwen no sings. 2) ste ed wh 6 ch HOPE ce 3) Speci eng we mabe neve ‘Sorandrotshavea arto 2¥ ces (750n) 5) AD tedden wl Pad snd tk. 6A Blo fed wt od 1 taco ‘otamaten teers ad upaustor oping Nata conceneg hui da pad we ed wei nd dlabteed be a: tones Peers ‘asst ence hey a ‘revved bapradcl creed en. Sa he ocud we by er nyo orto prea wae ony bn eres) osteoid dayne mney ena mentee sae ef ron vematen ra bs ecesare es aboutenpatcare ecepral condone ncosoeeronsioecosecoppteaDelonse yore ‘igintas Htin even corned tbe combund spore a8 etreenditon hung mY Pao: Av, José Géiver 438 200, Poo timate -ers By ee c6ib 2204) 2n44/20.0 es eons 00 (6) 1) 446-4097 / 7-720 ; een reer — agru america High Density PotvernyLeneé Micro Spike® Linea Product Data (winimum Average Roll Values) z ee ‘Thickness (mils nominal) Cy 100 Mot Flow index, max (y/!Ominutes) ASTM D1238-E 4 4 A 4 4 Density (gf? min) AsTupra2 oh Tansie Strength at Yield (s/n width) ASTI D833 (baited) a a Tensile Stenath at Break (bli. with) TypelV Specimen a a Elongation at Yield (%) Gane lengh 2in, break, 2 2 Re wn 2 Elongation at Break (6) 131. il, 2igm 0-40 oman Tear Resistance (bs) ASTM D1004- Die C 2 x 45 60 6 Environmental Stoss Crack hs) ASTM D1089 15001500 5001500500 Environmental tress Crack (ts) STN 05397 2 200 200 ton, 200 B00 Puncture Resistance (ibs) FIMS 101 -C, Method 2065 45 a 90 120 150 Puncture Resistance (bs) ASTM 04893, a 90 120 150 180 Carbon Black Content (%) ASTM D1608/04218 2-3 2-3 2-3 28 2-9 » Carbon Black Dispersion (Category) ‘ASTM 05545 12 42 te Sede da 3 upply Information (standard Rot! Dimensions) Muy Me Hae eee) u uh (i i 30.05: 2006 70 492 190 11818 1,051 a1 4,098, 4 19 230 70 492 150 1316 1,05t 39m 1,373, oo 24s 20°70 410 125 8,490 875 3366 1,325 20 230 70 28 1c0 7.544 700 3500 1,594 100° es 230 70 246 B 5,658 525 Sie 1438 [2S 1 At ped wih Woes. 2) AF ed wi a Bred DOPE coe 3) Sec ol kgs we on mgt Stadia alae of 29 nchos 801m) 5)A 40 ho strcrd eve wit ha Ue 6) A 48 thao wo ene * nnmalon, recomendations ard singers ppeirg ni rae corcoing he ee expat oe sed pon ests and ta bene toe il hone to user ae unin th aity bs Nom ne othe protulsdescitndheeh, Seca SA os Os beyond ot canto no gearanaowarntolonioe opened net. iad by howAneice ase eet of sich seo Heretus b be bod rox dn hg Araica asus any syn ones btent hey ftom nse hone s) om be wick conple sco adr foaten ney ta etsy dsiabl when gate of enna enclose cicondarcer te evo oiopeaocieee Poti requabns.Notieg hein conse letoba costs pomsson ores rcronendsientoutngeary pov xecute Oc: $0 Garson Fad, Georgetown SC, 2440 843-546-C600 + 600.901.1879 «Fac 33-546. 0516 ‘Sales Oca: 709 Rocka Sue 150, Kingwood, 177399 «281-968-4741» 8C0-373-2478 Fax 2813569297 ‘ora salesrakyagsinetica comIGSE) es ‘GSE HD- Gse HD i: 0 high quality, high density polyethylene (ore geomembrone produced from a specially formulated, proprietary viegin polyethylene resin. This HDPE Gecinamibyene palyayloce- rain designed ypacticdhy be Rontle nesters oppcatons GSE HD contains approximately 97.5% polyethylene, 2.5% carbon black and trace ‘amounts of antioxidants and heat scbilizers; no other oddiives, filers or extenders ere used, GSE HD hos outstanding chemical resistance, mechanical propertcs, environmental stress erack resistance, dimensioncl stability ond thermal aging characteristics. GSE HD has excellent resistance to UV radiatien and is suitable for exposed conditions. TESTED PROPERTY TEST METHOD MINIMUM VALUES. Thickness lst) JSIMOTSISI5I9 76a 3699 SAAN ABH 90225) Ovnin, Yom? asta 0792/1505 ot 098 0st ose aoe ene Popenies each destiny (ASTM 0 68, Type Srengh at Beak, Winwidh (Niemi Deena, 2 jpn man eH aaa) eas) Steagh ariel mnowidh (im) soy nes) naga ow ‘orgton at Beak, % GL.2Sin(64 mm) sw so seo 500 00 Eoaision 3 il % Gi.13in63 med B a 3 13 a [Tear Resiaance hind ASTM 1904 nea 300) S200) kone sw nce Rsizance, BN FINS IO) Mebod2065 wary) a3) OBS) 10546 1301579 [cutoo Buck Cowen. % ASTID 1603 20 20 20 20 20 Eoviormenal Sve Crock Ressunce,w__ASIMD 1693, Cond 1800 1800 1500 1600 1500 REFERENCE PROPERTY TEST METHOD NOMINAL VALUES Picks ils tem) AST 073115935198 oj) 009 wa wan iene al erat” Woproxinsi, im) S203 __es00199 2011280196) __—_—250078) Low rencertwe Bitienas, CO ASTID 76, Cand, SMMC CIMT G1O7(@77) <7 1e7)_<1ONEM vduire induce Teme, minutes ‘ASTD 3895, 200°C 0 100 100 10 10 Pore 128m i Absa wt hangs AST 570 am 2m “201 aa ai cine Vapor Tansmision pinay ASTM S6 e001 <2001, 2001 9001 0001 caiben sack Oisersion ASTID 3015 AAS) AWB) As AALS ALAS Pimersoral Sabin each dre % ASTM 1208, DOG Yip at 2 eT 2 2 ot how index 10 minutes ASTAD 238. Con 199216 510 10 10 10 0 GSE HD is valabh in rolls opproximotely 22.5 & [6.7 n) and 34.5 F (10.3 m] wide ond waging about Z700 31S Ig] and 2400 (1.295 ka) respectively. Other mowrilthickrestos ore evalebla upon roqons, Rel lengihs eoespond tothe 22.5 & (6.9 m) wide rol goods, Tis ilormetion 1s provided for refecence perpases onl nd i fl ntended es a werraty of quoronioe. GSE cstimes ve ibility in conection with fe we ofthis information. Check wit GSE fer curent, sondord minimum qvolly ossrotse rovadurcs Ceacinrodamerts of GSE Uning Technology, nc. ore regisered in he Unted Stes ond cercin foreign courte, GSE i registered moder cf GSE Using Tachoslogy, cs stung ectonoy It. GSE Lng Techcory Gall Sal nso OlRar Crore edentes opot lg Jasnts te Gale Rnd thle Sete 12 ant Nut Yous 7703 Ban Han Sores 8 Gera ntl lon aousao, sas aoa szaséore a 94070-<003 For environmental ining solutions .the world comes to GSE A Gindle/ST Envi Ie onpany ‘05005 REBESS"nt PROVES ERIE ‘TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Smooth HDPI Geomembrane Thekeess, Micium Average _ ‘Standard Roll Dime Niele Indias Oxidative Induction Time Sheet Density Carboa Biack Content Ture ispersion (10 views) Tensile Strength + Yield Seengti += Yield Elongation (1.3 i. Gage Lengthy + Break Steet longiton (2 in Gage Lent), as enpervare Bivlanise Oven Aging Gat 88°C, Stondurd OFF, % relained after 99 days) Retained after 1600 lus) ¥ Roll length may vary £1% Data provided tor infor 08/99 FROHE NC, ¢ SUL 485 STAT D3195 i * Teatiag frequency based oa standard roll dimeasious. — Interaational 2801 Marie-Vi “ol: 1450) 929-1254 Fax: (49° 929-1 “1 Ghee per Bach j Per Fomulation | Per Formiation 1.50 rom 67% itm win 75 16 ininates Sesie wee itead Gttiee Other Offices jenal purposes only Canada USA. France: Test Sethi | Frequeney> Sohmax 460 Metric Units [cn Giheetion “P28 we 95) Tr Gaegary Vor “Asiana - Type 1V 24. we ee jorin Blvd Varennes, Quabes, Carada J3X (P7 Web, www.solmas.com Chile 200 267-1232 80571-3004 1 30.15.05.46 . Sez 302-9087 SIG INGENIERIA SRL R.U.C : 43070140