Heap Leach Pad Monitoring - Case Study
2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging
Objective
Study was performed at a Heap Leach Copper Mining site in Chile to determine the impervious zones for the irrigation. The first base survey is performed to locate the impervious zones to be able to improve irrigations. The second monitoring survey is performed after 50 days of irrigation through drilled two boreholes to observe the improvement of irrigations.
Layout
The surveys were performed in 12th of May and 1st July 2015 in Chile with AGI SuperSting WiFi R8 RES/IP instrument with 56 electrodes.
Instrument
The AGI SuperSting R8/SIP/SP/Wi-Fi resistivity instrument with a 56 electrode SwitchBox andEarthImager 2D software and Time Lapse module were used.
Array type used
The Dipole-Dipole array was used to collect the 2D electrical resistivity imaging data set with using total 56 electrodes at 2m spacing.
Obtained Results
The impervious zones were successfully mapped where high resistivity values associated with a poor irrigation at Heap Leach. Two drillings were made at 36 and 72 meters over the survey line in order to improve the irrigation at Heap Leach Copper Mine and increase the production of concentrate of copper. The second measurement was made 50 days later to confirm the drilling results showing how the resistivity values decrease in the impervious zones. The difference resistivity section shows decreasing percentage of resistivity in the impervious zones as result of the irrigation at drilling, and improving the irrigation in order to increase the production of concentrate of copper. The other important aspect is that how the resistivity increase at the bottom of the section associated with a poor irrigation of Heap Leach.
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