Mining engineers of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Central and Regional Offices recently underwent a “Training on Design Monitoring and Closure of TSFs” on June 15-24, 2015 in Baguio City conducted by the International Mining for Development Centre (IM4DC), an agency established by The University of Western Australia and The University of Queensland in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian Aid initiative.
The training aimed to capacitate MGB technical personnel in assessing the stability, monitoring and performance, management of environmental impacts and closure plans of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs).
The training also provided the participants a sound basic understanding of the dam types, foundation and construction, geotechnical investigations, laboratory testing, design process for new and existing dams and associated upgrades, as well as operational issues, monitoring and decommissioning.
Dr. Ken Mercer, Professor of Environmental and Mining Geomechanics at the Australian Center for Geomechanics, The University of Western Australia; and Mr. Bill Biggs, Principal at Environment, Biggs and Associates served as the primary lecturers.
The IM4DC Team included Ms. Bethany Carey, during the training in Baguio City; and Ms. Helen Langley, during the lecture in Quezon City. Both are Program Managers of IM4DC.
The fieldwork component of the training was conducted at the TSFs of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company in Mankayan, Benguet; and Philex Mining Corporation in Tuba, Benguet last June 17 and 18, 2015, respectively. It was done to familiarize the participants in the actual operation and maintenance of TSFs.
The numerical modelling component, which was facilitated by Dr. Ken Mercer, enabled the participants to apply the concepts of TSF design and geotechnical engineering. The pre-release version of SVS Office 5, a geotechnical office suite to model slope stability, seepage, contaminant transport, freezing or thawing and air flow in unsaturated zone, was used. It was held last June 25-26, 2015 at Quezon City.
The participants during the field visit in Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company
The TSF of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company
