Reclamation at an Inactive Copper Mine

The copper mine in Arizona had been inactive for years and our client wanted to make healthy use of the space. That was our challenge—converting an existing copper mine into a test reclamation facility. The client clearly communicated that the project would be a demonstration facility to be tested, monitored, and repaired as necessary. The goal? Implement value engineering to transform innovative concepts into future savings for the client.

Our designs would need to meet government standards while satisfying the client’s objectives. The overall objective was clear: create and sustain a life-cycle habitat that could be tested and monitored over time. Through several studies and alternative evaluations, our team was able to mitigate risks and cut-down on costs.

We installed tailing impoundments to direct the flow of stormwater from the reclaimed facilities into infiltration basins for onsite retention. Our design controlled the flowrate to mitigate project costs and reduce the need for large stormwater facilities downstream. The site encompasses approximately 710 acres of reclaimed land, five attenuation basins, and several side-slope channels, toe channels, and down drains.