Geotechnical

Our team of professionals has completed thousands of projects and has the experience required to evaluate subsurface conditions and to develop appropriate engineering solutions on budget for the mining industry. We provide services in the design and construction of earth dams and structures, design and stability assessment of natural and man-made slopes, excavations and earth works as well as provide mine rehabilitation design and engineering. As well, GENIVAR has a strong geomechanics team that can assist with complex underground and open pit stability and design and inspections. GENIVAR has its own certified lab which can provide material testing services.

GENIVAR’s comprehensive geotechnical services team can provide solutions, studies and engineering analysis for projects including:

• Geotechnical Earth Structures Design – dams, water collection ponds, berms and ditching, foundations
• Tailings and Waste Rock Management – design, planning and stability analysis of retainment structures
• Geotechnical Analysis – seepage, overburden bearing capacity, settlement, slope stability analysis, instrumentation and monitoring
•Seismic Hazard Evaluations
•Rock Mechanics and Ground Control – numerical modelling, crown pillar stability and design, pit slope design and slope design, determination of rock strength parameters, support selection and design, instrumentation and monitoring, mine sequencing, core logging, and geotechnical mapping and domain evaluation
•Aggregate Management – prospecting and selection of borrow areas
•Site Characterization and Hazard Mapping
•Subsurface investigations and baseline reports for boreholes and testholes and comprehensive laboratory services

Featured Project: Mine Workings Investigation, Timmins, ON, Canada
Goldcorp

• Determine location of historical mining areas underground.
• Determine thickness of overburden and crown pillar dimensions.
• Determine proper location of fencing on surface to act as barricade to underground workings.

Nine near-surface historical stopes associated with Hallnor, Bonetal, Reef, Delnite and Coniaurum Mines were investigated to ensure the current fencing outline on surface was correctly located, accounting for the depth of overburden and the extent of underground mining. The scope of work included a site visit and data collection, review of data, preparation of a drill plan, technical support during drilling and a final report for the client. All relevant data was collected including stope files, geology, stope reports and maps as well as mine history, geotechnical data and current fence locations. Through a designed drilling program, RQD, lithology and structural geology features were determined. The final proposed fence location considered surface topography, overburden thickness and geometry of crown pillar mining history.