Tailings Storage Facility

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The TSF was constructed in two phases. Phase 1 was constructed to an elevation of 1,204 m and provided storage capacity for tailings and stormwater for approximately 2.5 years of operation. For Phase 2, the impoundment and embankment were raised to an elevation of 1,213 m. The impoundment has been sized to contain 2.55 million tonnes of tailings, plus free water and stormwater resulting from a 1,000-yr, 24-hr storm event (300 mm).

The TSF has a synthetic geomembrane liner underlain by a low-permeability liner bedding fill layer to cushion the liner and eliminate the potential for seepage of residual process solutions. Fine-grained materials suitable for liner bedding layer fill construction were not identified at Mercedes.

The tailings delivery system consists of a tailings header pipe and a series of tailings discharge spigots. Tailings are deposited from the crest of the embankment and around the impoundment perimeter to generate a surface slope that concentrates all free water in the area
of the reclaim water intake. Cycling tailings deposition around the impoundment perimeter will also result in thin-lift deposition and facilitate evaporation of entrained water and consolidation of the tailings solids.