Mine Design, Planning & Operations Support services include:

• Open Pit Mine Design, Planning, and Engineering
• Underground Mine Design, Planning, and Engineering
• Mineral Reserve Estimation
• Production and Cost Estimation
• Operations Auditing and Optimization
• Long Range, Mid-Range and Short-Term Planning
• Grade Control and Production Reconciliations
• Geofluvial Reclamation Design
• Underground Mine Ventilation
• Corporate Management
• Tailings Dam Operations Support
• Dam Safety Inspections
• Monitoring Instrumentation Design and Installation

Project Valuation & Optimization services include:

• Independent Project Review
• Project Due Diligence
• Independent Engineer
• Mining Economics and Finance
• Multi-Scenario Economic Modeling
• Project Optimization and Trade-off Studies
• Independent Adviser and Consultation
• Mineral Property Appraisals

Geology and Resource Estimation services include:

• Exploration Sampling Program Design (Quality Control/Quality Assurance)
• Geological and Structural Mapping
• Geologic Core Logging
• Exploratory Data Analysis
• 3D Geological and Structural Modeling
• Mining Geology Modeling
• Mineral Resource & Reserve Estimation
• Geometallurgical Modeling

Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Water Resources

Water management is often a mine’s single greatest technical, permitting, and social challenge. Recognizing this fundamental need, our associates have taken pains to master all aspects of mine water management. We assist projects world-wide not only in the cost-effective exploitation of water resources, but also in the protection of those resources from the impacts of mining.

Our associates have found mine water sources in fractured-rock aquifers for mines in arid regions, and has helped mines manage excess water in regions with heavy rainfall or snowmelt. We predict pit dewatering and underground mine dewatering needs, and work to incorporate pit dewatering and slope stability together in an integrated pit optimization package to minimize mine waste. Our associates also conduct geochemical characterization for Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) from all types of mine waste and predicts the impacts ARD may have on water quality. Through our teaming partners, we offer innovative solutions for ARD treatment, including passive treatment systems and sulfate-reducing bioreactors.

Our associates’ studies are usually incorporated into NI 43-101 Technical Reports or in Environmental Impact Assessments. Often, our associates continue to final design and installation of water management infrastructure. Over the years, we have saved our clients millions of dollars in water management and treatment costs while meeting or exceeding the requirements of local laws and international guidelines.

Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Water Resource services include:

• Piping and Pumping Systems
• Surface Water Management Plans
• Channels, Ditches, and Diversions
• Sediment Detention Structures
• Weirs and Flumes
• Stilling Basins and Energy Dissipation Structures
• Dambreak and Floodplain Studies
• Channel Restoration
• Stream Gauging Stations
• Meteorological Stations
• Site Climatology
• Site Hydrology and Hydrogeology Studies
• Pit Dewatering
• Groundwater Modeling for Mine Impacts
• Groundwater Supply Development
• Water Balance Studies
• Monitoring Well Design and Installation
• Vibrating Wire Piezometer Design and Installation

Construction Support Services

Mine and plant construction consume the majority of initial capital costs for mining projects, and their successful planning, implementation, and completion are fundamental to the project’s success. Our associates have the experience and expertise to support mine and plant construction efforts and to plan for smooth transitions from the initial design phase through planning, construction, and finally operation.

Our associates’ experience includes comprehensive planning to ensure that all aspects of the construction program have been thought through and prepared for, including risk assessment, health and safety, budgeting, scheduling, quality control and assurance processes, contract management and change procedures, and oversight. Planning may include developing construction methodologies; describing the work from start to finish including the sequence of work elements, inspection points, and hold points; identifying required plant and equipment; identifying sources for materials and locations for storing at the project site; and identifying any required work permits. Our associates can identify long lead items and provide scheduling to identify when those items must be specified, when RFPs need to be sent out, when vendors needs to be selected, and when agreements need to be approved. Our team develops Project Execution Plans (PEPs) that include all of these aspects working closely with the client’s key team leaders creating an effective and necessary planning tool.

Our associates’ project controls experience ensures that project progress, concerns, and priorities are well communicated. We develop detailed project schedules with milestone dates, resource loading, and budget tracking. We conduct productivity analyses (planned vs. actual vs. earned) and estimate hours and costs to complete at regularly scheduled times. We develop logs for tracking and managing issues, requests for information, and risks. Our project controls experience and insight ensures that all stakeholders are apprised of project progress and potential issues and risks as soon as they develop.

Throughout the planning and construction, our associates act as the owner’s engineer, managing design and construction contractors, coordinating all aspects of the work, controlling documents, budgets, and schedules. During construction, our experienced engineers provide oversight of construction activities, quality assurance, and work flow; conduct materials sampling and testing; provide management and documentation of work completed, changes, variances, issue resolution, quality, and health and safety. We coordinate and liaise with the client’s personnel and foster a collaborative, effective team.

Construction Support services include:

• Owner’s Engineer
• Engineer of Record
• Construction Quality Assurance
• Construction Management
• Project Management
• Geotechnical and Materials Testing
• Post-Construction Monitoring
• Trouble Shooting and Remedial Action
• Instrumentation Monitoring

Environmental Management and Social Responsibility

Our associates have developed the expertise needed to design and implement environmental protection programs that will pass rigorous review from regulators and funding institutions. However, our associates recognize that environmental management and compliance must occur in the context of a successful mining project. Our associates therefore work with clients to create an environmental management plan that works within project constraints with a minimum impact on project economic performance.

Our associates have abundant experience preparing Environmental Impact Studies and in site environmental characterization. Our associates frequently write geochemistry and environmental sections of NI 43-101 reports. Our associates also write closure plans which reduce closure costs through the application of modern pollution and prevention methods and using our skills in earthworks and geotechnical engineering.

Additionally, our team members were involved in the development stages of geofluvial reclamation designs at BHP Billition’s New Mexico Coal Operations in early 2002. They were successful in gaining approval from the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) regulators. Since that time, geofluvial reclamation has evolved into one of the premier reclamation design methods with proven methods for erosion control, revegetation plant establishment, and wildlife habitat restoration.

Environmental Management and Social Responsibility services include:

• Acid Rock Drainage Prevention and Mitigation
• Reclamation and Closure Planning
• Environmental Studies – (Impact Studies, Baseline Studies, and Geochemical Studies)
• Environmental Management Planning
• Environmental Permitting
• Geofluvial Reclamation Design
• Sustainable Surface Water Management Plans
• Erosion Control and Best Management Practice Plans
• Training for Safe and Environmentally Friendly Operations
• Safety Audits
• Practical Safety Plan Development
• Environmental Audits.