Now that you've figured out the type of polymer you need to use for your mining reclamation and rehabilitation project, it's time to look at the many other features that will be important to the longevity of your project. Reinforced or not? Textured or not? What about weight, stiffness, flexibility, or durability? Is it going to be exposed to chemicals or UV? Though some of these may seem a bit unimportant, there are solid reasons for asking each of these questions, reasons that can impact the success or failure of your rehabilitation project. Let's take a solid look at each of these features so that you can determine why each of them may be important - or not - for your mining operation, including reclamation and rehabilitation.
Reinforced Geomembrane Benefits
Generally speaking, you're going to want to go with reinforced geomembranes in the mining industry. Reinforcement makes it easier for the geomembrane to lay flat, reducing the wrinkles that can form as you're installing it. Wrinkles that remain in place can be compressed over time under the weight of water and sediment, and in stiffer materials, are more likely to crack and leak. When ores are processed in ponds, they tend to be especially heavy, causing non-reinforced geomembrane liners to stretch and expand, which can lead to tears, ripped seams, and leakage. Of the reinforced geomembranes, reinforced polyethylene (RPE) is both resistant to expansion and stretching from heavy weight as well as being significantly more resistant to damage from freezing in cold areas, which makes them great options for these parts of the world.
Why Does Surface Texture Matter?
If you're just lining something, why should it be textured? Textured geomembranes bond better with the soil above and below the installation site, which essentially gives it grip on that soil and keeps it in place. Smooth geomembranes spread very easily, but they won't create the same interlock between the layers. Because the texture creates friction, it prevents the liner from moving, especially on the steeper slopes on your pond sides or loose soil between roadways on your mine. Because textured liners slow the flow of water or air, it reduces erosion issues, which can also help keep contaminants on-site when you encounter runoff situations. Generally speaking, if your liner will be exposed or will be between two sets of unstable soils, a textured geomembrane will help keep everything in place much more reliably.
Weight, Stiffness, Flexibility, and Durability
When it comes to a mining geomembrane, you want the toughest, most durable, stiffest, yet, lightweight material you can find, right? This particular factor is a balance, requiring careful consideration of your specific needs. Thicker, stiffer, heavier membranes are more durable overall, but they're more likely to crack, especially at wrinkle points. It can also be harder to get it to fit smoothly in corners and forming good seams in uneven areas can be difficult at best. Materials that are less thick are more flexible and lower weight, which makes them much easier to install, fit and seam. To get to the best of all worlds, for in a mining geomembrane, RPE is the clear winner. RPE, like BTL’s ArmorPro, gives you good strength and durability because of its different types of polypropylene and reinforcement, while still remaining flexible and light.
Mining Use Features
Though many mines look at flexibility and resistance to chemicals, there's a lot more to it than that. How easily can you install and seam the material? That will determine a lot of the total cost of your geomembrane. Materials that are heavier and less flexible can be hard to spread and seal, making it more expensive in the long run, and their lack of flexibility can cause problems with cracking and leaking, especially in active seismic zones. Do you need a vapor-blocking barrier as well to keep air quality within particular parameters? Are you going to be using heavy equipment for scraping or emptying processing ponds at the end of treatment cycles? Are there unusual chemicals you need to bear in mind when selecting your mining geomembrane? All of these questions should be carefully considered when you're trying to find the right geomembrane product for your mine's needs.
Exposed or Buried Installation?
Are you planning on leaving the geomembrane exposed to the sun for any length of time? Though you can use liners that are designed for burial in those locations, they won't last very long as UV exposure will quickly break down liners that haven't been designed to handle it on a daily basis. If there's any chance that there will be delays during mining reclamation and rehabilitation, that construction may be delayed due to supply or labor issues, that erosion may be a problem on the site that will expose the geomembrane or similar issues, make sure that you're getting a geomembrane that has solid UV protection built into it. This will prevent it from being damaged by exposure to sunlight and will keep everything contained that you need to for remediation, reclamation and rehabilitation to continue successfully.
These options can seem a bit confusing, and some are on opposite ends of what you'd like, but by considering what you need at all aspects of the mine's lifecycle, you can find the right geomembrane product for your specific needs. If you're having problems finding the right choice for different parts of your mine's lifecycle and operations, the experienced professionals at BTL Liners are ready to help. We can provide advice on each treatment or processing step throughout your mine's lifecycle. We'll help you find the right solutions for your mine's needs.
