Mine Planning
Badger Mining Corporation
Taylor, Wisconsin

Foth was retained by the Badger Mining Corporation to assist in mine planning and engineering for a silica sand mining operation located near Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The purpose of the plan was to: improve mineral reserve utilization, land management, and environmental protection; assist with regulatory compliance; and provide flexibility for mine operations. 

Challenges

The strategic planning and engineering efforts are divided into four general areas including:

• One-year planning activities such as developing engineering plans for overburden excavation, settling pond construction, access roads layout, and other site controls such as erosion control systems design and reclamation areas design.
• Five-year rolling plan activities such as developing resource assessments, site sequencing plans, process pond design, erosion control systems layout and site reclamation sequencing.
• Long-term resource management plan such as developing a life of mine plan which evaluates the essential elements of mining operations to economically develop and reclaim the mining site in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Process engineering assistance to improve product recovery and monitor the water and solids balance in production and process systems.

Benefits

The engineering efforts have resulted in more cost-effective means of developing and reclaiming mining areas as well as improving the recovery of product from wet screening process systems used by Badger. Thorough record keeping has resulted in subtle changes in operating methods and increased recoverable mineral reserves.