Ausenco’s multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive solutions, supporting projects from conceptual studies to closure and beyond. We offer expertise in tailings facilities, geotechnical engineering, mine waste and construction supervision support.
Each project has different requirements that require tailored solutions, ranging from site-specific conditions to diverse stakeholder needs. Our experienced team provides geotechnical and tailings management expertise throughout the mining project lifecycle. We develop tailings studies for a wide range of projects that vary in size, commodity type, location, and governance structures. By navigating unique challenges and ever-evolving industry requirements, we continually find better ways to deliver personalised and innovative tailings management and mine waste solutions.
Our experts utilise their extensive knowledge of industry standards and guidelines to design safe, environmentally responsible, socially conscious, water-efficient and operationally effective facilities. We follow international best practices, including the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and guidelines from the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), and the Canadian Dam Association (CDA).
Tailings governance plays a key role throughout the tailings management lifecycle, from initial planning through to closure. Our interdisciplinary team works collaboratively to develop comprehensive governance programs and find solutions that address technical, economic, and environmental challenges—reducing water use, cost, and disposal area size, while improving deposit stability.
Our services include:
- Tailings characterisation and geochemistry
- Development and supervision of geotechnical investigation campaigns, as well as interpretation of in situ and laboratory test results
- Geotechnical monitoring planning and interpretation
- Expert advice on GISTM and other relevant guidelines related to mine waste and mining infrastructure
- Geotechnical, hydrologic and hydraulic, civil, and environmental engineering of tailing storage facilities
- Dam safety reviews and inspections, dam breach analysis (DBAs), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and risk assessments
- Operations support including Operations Maintenance and Surveillance (OMS) and Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP)
- Control Quality Assurance (CQA) services for tailings and waste rock
- Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) during construction and operations
- Dewatering and filtration
- Engineer of Record (EOR) services, providing comprehensive engineering oversight and compliance monitoring to ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of critical infrastructure.
- Mine closure and remediation
We believe that close collaboration with our clients is paramount to support the proper planning, design, construction and decommissioning of tailings facilities in a safe, responsible and efficient manner. Find out more about our solutions for transforming tailings management.