Catamarca, Argentina
1997
ECO was called to Alumbrera within 3 weeks of the scheduled completion of a grout curtain for the mine’s tailings management system. Upon completion of tertiary grout holes, it was determined that the curtain would not meet its 1 Lu residual permeability design criterion. In certain areas, permeability values well in excess of 80 Lugeons were recorded in grout holes of a higher order. In these zones, it was established, using ECO’s amenability theory, that even microfine cement was not adequately amenable to the formation and that it was necessary to use acrylamide based grout to meet the target value for the residual permeability.
ECO was responsible for recommending and implementing remedial measures to bring the grout curtain to a successful and timely conclusion. This role included the following:
- Formulating regular and microfine cement grouts, with appropriate additives for achieving optimal rheological characteristics
- Establishing guidelines for the application of regular and microfine cement grouts and acrylamide, based on formation amenability
- Establishing quality control practices for the grouting program
- Supervising the implementation of the remedial grouting program, including re-drilling and re-grouting virtually all previously grouted holes
ECO’s contribution to the project resulted in the partial reconstruction of the grout curtain to meet the design criteria and without causing delay to mine start-up.