PASTE & FILTERED TAILINGS services to various mining companies , ranging from the massive Oyu Tolgoi copper mine to the relatively small Bayun Khundii gold project , ATC Williams has been actively engaging with mining companies in providing best-practice solutions in mine waste management .
At Oyu Tolgoi , ATC Williams initially provided independent design and operational reviews in partnership with MUST . Since 2019 it has been engaged as the design engineer for the existing tailings storage facility and a second TSF , soon to be commissioned . Recent studies have included detailed stage designs of the existing facility and concept through to the detailed design of the second facility .
Tasks completed so far include dam break studies , stability and seepage assessments , beach modelling and water balance and sitebased quality assurance services facilitated by local partner SoilTrade LLC . The site has complex near-surface geology comprising Cretaceous sands and clays . A detailed field investigation was completed in 2021 to assess and understand the performance of the fissured clays present at the site . The investigation was managed from Australia and finished by local Mongolia partners .
For Erdene Resource Development and its Bayun Khundii project , which is using filtered tailings , ATC Williams completed a PFS for an integrated waste landform . It also provided peer review of detailed design that is being completed by a Mongolian engineering consultant .
State-owned copper mining enterprise Erdenet . Mining Corporation is a new client . ATC Williams has been engaged to undertake a Dam Safety Review and investigation of the stored tailings to international standards . Erdenet is currently using Russian best practice but is looking at implementing a more global best practice approach .
Erdenet Mining tailings pipelines ( courtesy Mark Dillon )
with a crew of highly motivated and skilled people . We have an outstanding cohort of young people coming through too . I see the long-term benefits ATC Williams can offer Mongolia and other countries , and I ’ m excited to be driving this vision .”
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Bringing new approaches to a new market
Before joining ATC Williams in 2007 , Dillon worked for Golder ( now WSP ) for nine years , based in Perth and Melbourne . For two of those years , he relocated to Ireland and England to perform quality assurance work and says he was able to learn a great deal from the way European countries approach mining and waste management , and from France and Portugal , in particular .
On making the move to ATC Williams in the first place , he adds : “ ATC Williams was always well known for its high level of technical ability . I was certainly inspired by Paul Williams ’ research and work in tailings management , and I wanted to deepen my knowledge in this field . I am grateful to be in a leadership position , working
APRIL 2023 | International Mining SUPPLEMENT P3