Gamsberg Zinc Mine
Client
Vedanta ResourcesLocation
Northern Cape, South AfricaHighlights
- Optimized deposition method from spigot to cycloning
- Detail design overlapped with construction
- 12-month construction period
- Full-time site supervision
- Engineering support
- Operational planning
- Commissioning
- Fully HDPE lined facility
Project Overview
Black Mountain Mining (Pty) Ltd., a part of the global Vedanta Resources Plc, is developing the Gamsberg Zinc Mining and Concentrator Project located in Aggeneys, South Africa.
The Gamsberg mine is located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, just off the N14 National road linking Upington to Springbok, 20 km east of the Black Mountain Mine and the town of Aggeneys.
Liviero Civils (Pty) Ltd., together with Knight Piésold, was awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the tailings storage facility (TSF) for the 4 million tons per annum (mtpa) Gamsberg Zinc Mineral Processing and Infrastructure Project.
Project Role
Knight Piésold was appointed to carry out the detail design for the TSF while the contractor commenced mobilization to site. The appointment stemmed from the best optimization of the existing feasibility level design by changing from spigot deposition to cycloning. This change resulted in significant cost savings due to lower earthworks quantities and a smaller lined footprint.
A concrete decant penstock was designed to incorporate precast concrete members to act as sacrificial formwork, enabling faster construction. Instrumentation was also installed to monitor the liner temperature during operation to better understand the tailings behaviour and impact on liner life.