UK-based Knight Piésold, in a joint venture with France’s Burgéap-Region Sud, has undertaken the feasibility study for a new tailings dam. The facility will be located at an existing gold mine in Salsigne, France and is due to replace two existing tailings dams whose capacities will be exhausted by 31 December 1999. Consequently, the new dam must be designed, licensed, constructed and commissioned by 1 January 2000.
The feasibility study will examine the options available to the mine owners, Mines d’Or de Salsigne (MOS), and will include:
•Identifying potential locations for a new 3.5Mt depository.
•A review of existing geotechnical data.
•Consideration of construction methods and basin lining options.
•Cost estimates.
The consortium will also give MOS advice about the closure of the two existing dams, Artus and Montredon. This will be handled by Burgéap-Region Sud. Knight Piésold has experience of working on tailings dams, and was involved with the design and construction of Montredon in 1993. It is anticipated that the new dam will last for seven years.
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