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Background
The Antamina mine, located at over 4,300 m elevation in the Peruvian Andes, is one of the world’s top Management Model Typical Simulation Scenarios
ten producers of both copper and zinc. In 2002, a GoldSim model was developed by Golder Associates
Antamina personnel run the model on a regular basis to assist with planning and operation of the water
to provide Antamina with a forecasting tool to assist with water management system operations. Alan Keizur management system. Model runs are typically done deterministically based on specified scenarios,
such as the following:
Golder Associates •Time Frame – typically one month to 5 years
•Precipitation – 100-year wet, 100-year dry (based on statistical analysis of long-duration records from
Roberto Manrique Arce nearby climate stations), or historical average precipitation (based on measured data at the site since
2000)
•Transfers from Tailings Pond to Polishing Pond – specify decision rules for making transfers to the
Compañia Minera Antamina polishing pond for dilution and eventual discharge.
•Seepage Pumpback – specify decision rules for managing collected seepage, which can be pumped
back to the tailings pond, discharged directly, or pumped to a passive treatment system (wetlands)
•Tailings Production – various production rates and ore types can be analyzed.
•Release of fresh water to maintain instream flows – releases from the three fresh water storage ponds
can be either specified or calculated to ensure minimum flows are maintained in the Quebrada Ayash.
•Provide useful projections of volume, elevation, and flow rate for the Tailings Dam, main upstream 4,105
Dam Crest 4100
Elevation (masl)
Envelopes
dams (Dam D, Polishing Pond, Nescafe Lake) downstream water systems (Tucush Creek and Ayash 4,095
4090
Based on the above the GoldSim model results are used to support operational decisions, such as:
4,065
Assessment for the dam raise plan (e.g. probable maximum flood (PMF) compliance) and support for
dam management (e.g. tailings deposition plan, pond water volume trends). 4,055
Calculate tailings deposition rates under different concentrator operating scenarios (ore type,
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Assess the impact of certain management decisions (e.g., tailings seepage return line into Tucush
wetlands, replacement of batch water loads in pipeline with Dam D fresh water, etc.) Figure 5: Dam D Water Elevation Envelopes
Projection 2006
4,260
80%
Elevation (masl)
60%
4,245
40%
4,240
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/20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20
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/0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /1 /1 /1 /1 /1 /1 /1
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100 Year Dry Conditions Max. Oscilation Standart Conditions Max. Oscilation 100 Year Wet Conditions Max. Oscilation
Current Elevation Dam D Minimum Elevation for Standart Year Minimum Elevation 1 in 50 Dry Year
Minimum Elevation 1 in 100 Dry Year Standart conditions without Riparian Release