Installation of geosynthetics at the Cerro do Lobo Tailings Storage Facility

Abstract

The Cerro do Lobo Tailings Storage Facility is part of the Neves-Corvo Mine, located in Portugal. The mine is operated by Somincor, a Portuguese company and a subsidiary of Lundin Mining Corporation. The mine has been in operation since 1988 and processes copper and zinc with an annual capacity of 2.8 million tonnes and 2.5 million tonnes, respectively. The facility consists of a zoned rockfill tailings dam. The tailings storage area was recently expanded by approximately 10%. This expansion involved the construction of a new embankment in the southern area of the tailings facility. Technical assistance for the design and construction of the new southern embankment was provided by an independent and impartial research and development institute. The embankment incorporates a liner system with geosynthetic barriers. The use of geosynthetic barriers presented several challenges during both the design and construction phases. This paper discusses the main challenges faced during the construction of the liner system, mainly related to the installation of the geosynthetics.