Progressive Closure Strategy for Olympic Dam’s Evaporation Ponds

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Background

Okane assisted in reviewing closure requirements, updating tailings storage facility (TSF) closure designs, conducting TSF closure trials and developing closure options and trials for the evaporation ponds (EP) at Olympic Dam, one of the world’s most significant deposits of copper, gold, silver, and uranium. The tailings are a fine, low-pH material with low levels of radioactivity and high metals. The EP precipitate is a hypersaline, low-pH, metal-laden, thixotropic material.

Approach

Various workshops were conducted to define potential challenges and constraints and to identify potential and probable implementation risks. Okane’s deliverables included preliminary TSF closure designs, TSF closure trial designs, nine EP closure strategy alternatives, an EP Test Work and a Field Trial program with supporting drawings, material take-offs, and capital and operational cost estimates.

After

Okane’s work facilitated the update of Olympic Dam closure cost estimates and will be used to demonstrate progressive rehabilitation and closure planning occurring at the site well in advance of the end of mine life.

Evaporative pond [Digital Image]. Okane Archives.

We develop closure strategy and accurate cost estimates demonstrating the value of progressive closure.