Pascua Lama is a project being undertaken by Barrick Explorations Company Argentina SA on the border between Argentina and Chile. Panedile provided services for the construction of a tailings dam, among other tasks.
A major challenge: 1,000 people working at 4,000 meters above sea level in the inclement weather conditions of the Andes
2.095.000 m3
Excavation
1.360.000 m3
Excavation through rock
622.000 m3
Embankments
685.000 m3
Embankments
PROJECT
Lama, Province of San Juan
CLIENTE
Barrick Exploraciones Argentina S.A.
DESCRIPTION OF WORKS
The tasks were developed on the site of the Pascua-Lama mining project located in the Andes mountain range, on the border between Chile and Argentina, at a distance of 350 km from the city of San Juan.
The works were located in Argentine territory, in the Rio Turbio basin at an altitude of between 3,770 and 4,070 m above sea level.
The works included the construction of the tailings dam embankment, including the temporary diversion of the Rio Turbio, with a volume of soil movement in the order of 1,800,000 m3.
Additionally fresh water pools were constructed, to store process water, with a volume of soil movement in the order of 2,000,000 m3, including drainage networks and the installation of waterproofing membranes.
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In a second stage the system to coat the tailings dam and drainage systems was undertaken . The surface to be covered was approximately 1,500,000 m2, about 150 hectares, with a volume of soil of 2,300,000 m3 to be moved.
Sub-drainage systems involved laying 52 kilometers of HDPE pipes of diameters ranging from 100 to 300 mm.
