IGS North America update: All about Toronto
June 1st, 2023
IGS North America (IGS-NA) is deep into planning GeoAmericas 2024, the 5th Pan-American Conference on Geosynthetics: geoamericas2024.org. Abstracts were accepted through May 24, and the technical and education committees will send the initial presentation/paper invitations in June. Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities will open to the field by June 2023. GeoAmericas 2024 will be held April […]
PVC geomembrane specifications for South American lithium mining
June 1st, 2022
FIGURE 1 A covered pond with a PVC geomembrane (left) that complies with Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) specifications. A second pond (right) is already filled with lithium brine. Lithium, one of the raw materials in various batteries, is the element powering the technological revolution over the past 30 years that has led to people having […]
GSI to host webinar on geosynthetics in heap leach mining
January 27th, 2022
Photograph courtesy of NAUE GmbH & Co. KG The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Geosynthetic Applications Used in Heap Leach Mining,” on Feb. 9, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) member companies and their employees receive discounted rates on all GSI webinar and short course registrations. The […]
Transitioning the mining industry to sustainability with geosynthetics
December 31st, 2021
By Michael Dickey, P.E., Director, Presto Geosystems Geocells at a mining site. Photograph courtesy of Presto Geosystems Mined materials are essential to our everyday lives. We use these valuable minerals in nearly every sector of the economy—they are necessary to construct roads and buildings, manufacture vehicles, build computers and generate electricity. Additionally, the mining industry […]
Fabricated Geomembrane Institute issues guideline for desert installation of fabricated geomembrane panels
December 28th, 2021
Fabricated geomembranes at a lithium mine in Chile. Photograph courtesy of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has issued this guideline to provide recommendations for installation and maintenance of fabricated geomembrane panels in desert environments, such as desert mining applications in North and South America. Guidelines for deploying geomembranes in elevated temperature […]
Geosynthetic solutions to improve safety in mining applications
October 6th, 2021
Photograph courtesy of AGRU America What do Tesla, Apple and Ford have in common? They all rely on mines that produce metals like lithium, which drives our technology-hungry world. Now, more than ever, mining operations must run efficiently to meet increasing demand. Equally as important is supporting positive public beliefs on mining. Mining operators must incorporate […]
FGI to host webinar on geosynthetics and stability for heap leaching and tailings dams
September 16th, 2021
Photograph courtesy of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) will sponsor a free webinar, “Lifetime Predictions of Nonexposed and Exposed Geosynthetics,” on Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. CDT. The webinar will discuss the use of geosynthetics and bottom liner systems in heap leach pads and tailings storage areas. This is important because tailing ponds […]
Using geosynthetics in mining heap leach pads
September 13th, 2021
Photograph courtesy of NAUE GmbH & Co. KG Industrial mining is essential in our tech-driven world. The need to create more efficient and cost-effective solutions has led to the rising popularity of a large-scale mining technique called heap leaching. Heap leaching utilizes chemical reactions to separate desired minerals from raw ore. The technique can produce […]
A special issue of Geosynthetics magazine
August 1st, 2021
In this special issue of Geosynthetics magazine, Jie Han, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, of the University of Kansas, the 2021 Dr. Robert M. Koerner Lecturer and Awardee, has written a fascinating article, “Geosynthetic-Reinforced Column-Supported Embankments: Improving Practice with Better Theory,” summarizing the key contents of his Koerner lecture and emphasizing the important point: Improving practice with […]
GSI to host webinar on geosynthetics in heap leach mining
July 28th, 2021
Photograph courtesy of Seaman Corp. The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Geosynthetic Applications Used in Heap Leach Mining,”on August 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) member companies and their employees receive discounted rates on all GSI webinar and short course registrations. The chemical extraction of precious metals […]