Mining

Geomembranes have many applications within the mining industry, and include:

• bottom liners
• ditch and canal liners
• pond liners

Heap leaching has become the preferred method of recovering minerals from low-grade ore from open pit mines.  Copper, gold, silver and other metals are most common.  The metal deposits are dissolved by chemicals applied to the top of the heap of ore, which eventually leach to the bottom of the pile.  Here a geomembrane liner captures the solution preventing it from migrating into the ground, before directing the solution by gravity to a collection system.  The solution is sent to a refinery where the metal can be precipitated out and the solution sent back to the heap to be used again to dissolve more metal. 

PVC liners are used in evaporation ponds in salt mining operations.  Water is pumped through wells into and out of the underground salt formations bringing the brine solution to the surface, where the sun evaporates the water, leaving the salt for recovery. 

Coal ash basin closures are another ideal application for geomembrane liners. 

 

For more information call 800-OK-LINER today!