Background

Foth was retained by the Badger Mining Corporation (BMC) to assist in mine planning and engineering efforts for one of their industrial sand (frac sand) mining operations. The purpose of the plan was to improve mineral reserve utilization, land management and environmental protection. Foth  also needed to assist with regulatory compliance and provide flexibility for mine operations.

Approach

The strategic planning and engineering efforts were divided into four general areas. One-year planning activities included 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 included developing resource assessments, site sequencing plans, process pond design, erosion control systems layout and site reclamation sequencing. Foth’s long-term resource management planning called for developing a life of mine plan that evaluates the essential elements of mining operations to economically develop and reclaim the mining site in an environmentally responsible manner. And finally, process engineering assistance included providing on-site process engineering assistance to improve product recovery and monitoring the water and solids balance in production and process systems.

Results

Our engineering efforts have resulted in a more cost-effective means of developing and reclaiming mining areas, and they have improved the recovery of product from wet screening process systems used by BMC. Thorough recordkeeping has also resulted in subtle changes in operating methods and increased recoverable mineral reserves.