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SGS MINERALS SERVICES – T3 SGS 854 10-2013

WATER TREATMENT FOR THE

Minimizing the impact of mining operations on local water resources is a top priority of the mining industry. SGS has been providing practical water treatment solutions, including the treatment of ARD (Acid Rock Drainage) and heavy metal contaminated wastewaters, to clients in the mining industry since 1998. During this time, SGS has developed a reputation as an organization with exceptional understanding of water treatment, providing innovative and practical treatment solutions to the mineral processing industry. Partner with SGS and let our experienced experts help you achieve affordable, efficient water treatment results. PLANT AUDIT LABORATORY TESTING SGS personnel typically begin a water The execution of analytical procedures WATER TREATMENT PROCESS treatment project with a thorough in-plant for environmental purposes must be At SGS, we focus on helping you develop audit to better understand your treatment completed with the utmost attention a truly sustainable water management needs. In-plant audits, including a site to accuracy and reliable operating plan, not just an end-of-pipe solution. water balance and review of current procedures. SGS provides a wide range of We have the technical expertise to water treatment practices, will allow laboratory testing services to assist you provide effective mitigating strategies SGS to gain a more comprehensive in the preparation of environmental audits and innovative, practical solutions that understanding of the scope of your and impact studies, as well as in the reduce the environmental impact of your treatment requirements. Typical water resolution of existing effluent problems. operations. Our water treatment experts treatment problems encountered by our Some of our standard laboratory tests will conduct the following procedures to mining clients include: include: ensure your water treatment project is •• ARD •• Acid Base Accounting sulfur completed efficiently and affordably: •• Acid industrial effluents speciation and ABA (EPA-Sobek) to •• Plant or site audit and •• Heavy metal contaminated determine if waste is potentially acid recommendations wastewaters producing. •• Laboratory testing A complete audit of current water •• Shake flask extraction tests (EPA- •• Pilot-scale testing when necessary treatment practices and requirements and 1312) or modified extraction tests to •• Design and of water an analysis of the inflows and outflows quickly assess quality of run-off treatment solutions of water at your operation (process •• Special waste testing classification •• Construction management water, mine water, surface water, and for waste disposal. SGS will continue during and after your precipitation) are important steps towards •• Column leaching and waste project start-up to ensure operational the development of a practical water rock disposal utilizing: blending, excellence and provide modifications and management plan, or the enhancement of limestone addition, layering, surface calibrations as required. an existing strategy. and underground disposal, etc. Put SGS, the world’s leading inspection, SGS is the global benchmark for quality verification, testing and certification and integrity. Our goal is to provide you company to work for you, and let us with the most effective water treatment reduce your operational risks and services possible beginning with a solid liabilities. Our water treatment specialists understanding of your current effluent are ready when you are. and drainage situation. Our experts will ensure that each stage of your plant audit is handled professionally and efficiently. SGS MINERALS SERVICES – T3 SGS 854 2

•• Lysimeter testing - a method for treatment capacity of the larger treatment •• Biological systems improving assessment by generating plant can be modified easily to suit each •• Ozonation data with a larger sample. site. Due diligence based on proven project •• Subaqueous column weathering tests Our mobile HDS pilot plant has been experience, our laboratory analysis, and to determine effects of disposing used for pilot studies in Australia, Brazil, the pilot plant testing results, means we waste rock and tailings underwater. , Peru, Chile and USA. The pilot ensure your water treatment system •• Humidity cell weathering tests – to plant requires an area of 10 ft. by 12 ft. (3 is the most efficient and cost effective simulate weathering conditions and m x 3.7 m) to set up and is self-contained solution. SGS is able to design systems characterize waste. for full operation, requiring only 16 hours that effectively handle varying metal As well, we can perform: for full assembly. This pilot plant has concentrations (several milligrams per litre •• detoxification studies been used at more than 25 sites, and to several grams per litre of total dissolved •• Effluent treatment constant upgrades continue to optimize metals) of a wide variety of heavy metals •• High Density Sludge (HDS) its performance. The data generated from from various sources including: processing this unit has been used to engineer full- •• Base metal mining operations (, •• Precipitation and removal of dissolved scale water treatment plants and engineer lead, iron, , manganese, nickel) metals retrofitting of existing conventional •• mining operations (arsenic, •• Suspended solids settling neutralization operations. selenium, ) •• Cyanide destruction using peroxide or During your pilot plant operations, •• Others (cadmium, chromium, cobalt,

SO2 processes unforeseen problems may arise, usually molybdenum) All laboratory work is performed in revealing issues that are better addressed After the most economical treatment accordance with recognized global before full-scale operation. As a result of system is selected, we will optimize your standards such as American Society years of experience in water treatment water treatment process and ensure for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and and pilot testing, our staff will quickly proper equipment selection and sizing. International Standards Organization provide workable alternatives and inform Our water treatment experts possess (ISO). Our experienced staff members you of the implications each will have on a wealth of experience in designing operate in laboratories with state-of- your overall water management plan. practical water treatment solutions for the the-art instrumentation, using industry mining industry. Leverage our technical standard best practices to provide you DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF WATER expertise and let us provide you with with complete accredited, accurate and TREATMENT SOLUTIONS practical water treatment solutions aimed timely water analysis. Once laboratory at minimizing your impact on the local SGS has been designing water treatment testing is completed, our experts will water resource. plants ranging in size from 1,500 L/min to proceed with you to the pilot-scale testing 210,000 L/min since 1998. Our extensive phase of your water treatment project. experience in pilot studies, combined CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT with our understanding of ARD and heavy SGS offers a range of construction ON-SITE PILOT-SCALE TESTING metals, contaminated water, enables us management services to assist you in An important advantage of SGS’ to methodically pilot and design efficient, the construction phase of your project. water treatment solution is our ability cost effective water treatment plants We will ensure the contractors’ designs; to provide on-site pilot plant testing. based on proven technologies. Our design drawings and specifications meet with Our involvement at the initial stages experts are able to provide you with the applicable codes, standards and complete of our investigations can save practical water treatment solutions even purchase specifications. Experienced SGS you time and money in the development at operations with severe site restrictions. personnel will verify design and stress of practical solutions to the treatment Those requiring new water treatment calculations, working drawings, material of ARD, acidic industrial effluents, and systems may have the option of utilizing a specifications, and control-systems to metals contaminated wastewaters on number of effective heavy metal removal ensure they operate in accordance with your site. By testing continuous effluent technologies including: construction requirements. At SGS, we sample on a 24-hour/day operation, •• Lime precipitation including the HDS are dedicated to ensuring your water credible baseline information is developed (High Density Sludge) process treatment project performs according to establish reliable design parameters for •• Engineered wetlands to specification and to your complete a treatment plant. SGS has a mobile pilot •• Carbon adsorption satisfaction. Count on us to be your plant available for this service as well as •• Ion exchange independent representative for all your a larger mobile treatment plant for batch •• Reverse osmosis water treatment construction needs. treating contaminated solutions. The •• Electrodialysis SGS MINERALS SERVICES – T3 SGS 854 3

SUMMARY SGS has years of experience effectively managing contaminated effluents for the mining industry including ARD, heavy metals contamination, and acid industrial effluents. We have the analytical, design and engineering experts to assist you through the following project stages to ensure efficient, practical solutions are found for your water treatment requirements: •• Plant audit •• Review of current practices and requirements •• Site water balance •• Development of a water management plan •• Laboratory testing at specialized SGS laboratories •• On-site pilot-scale testing including effluent sampling on a 24-hour/day basis and a mobile treatment plant for Partner with the world’s leading CONTACT INFORMATION inspection, verification, testing and batch treating contaminated solutions Email us at [email protected] certification company for all your water •• Design and engineering www.sgs.com/mining •• Construction management testing and treatment needs and let SGS help you reduce your operational and environmental risks and liabilities. We have the experience and the technical expertise to provide you with most efficient and affordable methods of managing your water resources. © SGS Group Management SA – 2013 – All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA