Three experts have been tapped for an independent review board to investigate a heap leach failure in June at Victoria Gold’s Eagle operation in the Yukon province of Canada, CBC News reported.
The three members appointed to the board are Jean-Marie Konrad, a geotechnical expert who has consulted for projects related to things such as permafrost engineering and dam construction; Les Sawatsky, a senior civil engineer with experience in mine development and closure planning, reclamation, and tailings management; and Mark E. Smith, an engineer with experience in gold heap leaching, including several cold-climate projects.
The review is expected to take six to eight months and will evaluate the factors behind the incident and its root causes, the outlet said. It was compiled by the provincial government.
The slide failure occurred June 24, sending millions of gallons of cyanide solution into the nearby environment and waterways. The mine was immediately closed as a result.
Also part of the review: the design, construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of the heap leach facility.
“Understanding the causes of the failure will help inform remediation of the failure, possible options for a future restart of mine operations at Eagle Gold, as well as other future operations in the Yukon,” the government agency told CBC.
It also reportedly said the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun has an “open invitation to join the Independent Review Board process at any time”; at press time, they group had not made a statement.
The investigation is being funded through the receivership of Victoria Gold, which was announced last month. The group previously had expressed concerns with the review process.
Source: Yukon appoints board to investigate cause of ‘catastrophic failure’ at Eagle mine | CBC News
