M&A provides a range of characterization and modeling services to support an EIS for mining one of the world’s most promising molybdenum deposits.
Client: General Moly, Inc.- Time frame: 2005–present
- Location: Eureka County, Nevada
The proposed Mount Hope project — a General Moly primary development interest located on BLM land in northern Nevada — targets one of the largest, highest-grade, undeveloped molybdenum deposits in the world. M&A provides hydrogeologic services to support an EIS for the site. Specifically, we are characterizing the fractured-rock hydrogeology of the planned pit area and developing a numerical model to project groundwater inflows to the pit under mining and post-closure conditions. The results have been coupled with other data to project the regional effects of the proposed mining operations.
M&A led field activities in the vicinity of proposed mine facilities and open pit. We designed and implemented a well drilling / testing program to obtain the data needed to characterize flow within the fractured-rock aquifer. We set up a data collection and transfer system that enabled us to analyze the data in real time and communicate efficiently with the client; this system minimized the test duration while maximizing the data’s usefulness. M&A also designed and implemented a groundwater monitoring program.
M&A developed a numerical groundwater flow model to identify pit dewatering requirements, to predict local and regional groundwater levels both during and after mining operations, and to create a water balance for the pit lake. Our experts calibrated the model to observed conditions and ran sensitivity analyses for key input parameters.
M&A provided technical support services during the regulatory review process. This work included preparing hydrogeologic reports, transmitting data, and responding to comments from the BLM.
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