Dependable structures built to support the full range of mining and mineral operations
Mining and mineral operations sites require a synthesised network of roads, crossings, tunnels and dump walls that support processing facilities. Because this infrastructure is intended to perform at maximum production levels under heavy loading, our professional engineers develop unique solutions to build durable structures dependent on the use of high-end, sustainable construction materials.
Dump Walls
Our experience with ROM dump walls extends over 45 years having designed Reinforced Earth® MSE walls for some of the primary crushing facilities at the world’s largest mining operations. These walls can reach heights of over 40m, and carry extreme live loads, even under severe climatic and local conditions.
We optimise the design of your structure based on the best selection of materials to suit your project, including the backfill material. The choices for facing elements include precast concrete panels, or Geoquest’s TerraTrel® welded wire steel mesh. Soil reinforcements come in the form of high-adherence steel strips, geosynthetic strips, or steel bar mats.
Precast concrete tunnels
Our precast concrete arches are the ideal solution for the construction of backfilled segmental tunnels throughout mining sites. They are commonly used to build:
- Reclaim conveyor tunnels
- Rail and vehicle tunnels
- Short-span bridges
- Shaft portals
- Rockfall sheds
- Utility vaults and pipeline cover
- Storage “slot” bunkers
Our solutions for storing and reclaiming ore, minerals, coal, and other mined materials typically consist of inclined Reinforced Earth® MSE walls, built linear or octagonal in plan. Most of these structures are built inverted, below ground, although may be set above ground. These walls are built with facings set at a calculated incline for drawdown. Geoquest’s Reinforced Earth® MSE slot bunkers have now been constructed on four continents with storage capacities ranging from 2,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes each, with depths reaching above 25m.
Reservoirs, tanks, ponds and pipelines
Mining operations require liquid storage and sediment separation facilities. We provide highly-engineered solutions to build and protect:
- Reservoirs
- Settling basins
- Tailings dams and ponds
- Frothing tank pads
- Leaching pads
- Hydro-transport pipelines
Using Geoquest's Reinforced Earth® MSE walls, built watertight when necessary, in combination with geosynthetic clay liners and geocomposite drainage systems will mitigate and control leakage, seepage, and undermining from erosion and chemical assault.
Access roads
Mine sites are often located in remote areas having variable soils. When necessary to build upon low bearing-capacity soils, intensive heavy truck and machinery trafficking will eventually cause deformation to superficial roadway layers if not reinforced. Such deformations may slow down operations and decrease on-site productivity while increasing the risks of accidents.
A simple and economical solution is to reinforce access roads using geogrids combined with aggregates to build a composite layer. Our soils experts will assist you in developing solutions using our high-performance geogrids to reduce the amount of aggregates required.
Our solutions result in significant savings in up-front costs, and mitigate the effects of rutting, which in turn reduces long-term maintenance costs.
Risk mitigation
Our specialists will address natural risk mitigation (such as rockfall and avalanche) with solutions to minimise interruptions to operations. We have expertise in assessing the capacity of existing structures to accept increased loads through upgrades or to find solutions to make expansions, re-use, or repairs.
Benefits of using Geoquest
Extreme load bearing capacity
Extreme load bearing capacity
Reinforced Earth® MSE structures have extreme load-bearing capacity and are resistant to vibrations, making them them ideal for supporting the live loads of heavy industrial vehicles and demanding activities, such as crushing and screening.
Flexibility
Flexibility
Geoquest Reinforced Earth® MSE structures can be built to very tall heights, over large surfaces, and are flexible to accommodate various geometrical requirements, such as sloped surfaces, and straight or curved alignments, making it a great solution for dump walls, among other applications.
Easy and rapid installation
Easy and rapid installation
Our structures are easy and quick to install. Offering a predictable installation requiring little space, they are an ideal choice on active mining sites, where little disruption to activities can be tolerated.
Speak to our team about your next project
Engineering expertise and 120 years or more of service life
Geoquest offers unrivalled engineering expertise to provide you with the best design and supply package, coupled to commercial excellence that will make your next road development project a success.
Guaranteeing long-term life duration and minimum necessity for maintenance of the infrastructure is of outmost importance, and our designs are optimised based on the service life that is required.
