Case Study

Cyanide Spill Containment at Barrick Gold’s Veladero Mine

In September 2016, a cyanide spill at Barrick Gold’s Veladero Mine in the Andes Mountains triggered an immediate operational shutdown. This emergency halted production at one of Argentina’s most significant gold mining operations.

Millions of revenue dollars were at risk of being lost every day during the delay. Barrick needed a rapid, reliable solution to contain the spill and satisfy regulatory demands for environmental remediation before resuming operations.

Project Specifications

  • Product used: 4-foot flood barriers
  • Installation configurations: Single layer of TrapBags in a perimeter to create an 8-km containment berm around the spill site
  • Material: Geotextile
  • Fill material: Local gravel and rock

The Challenge

  • High-stakes emergency: The cyanide leak needed fast containment to prevent contamination of the surrounding waterways and environment.
  • Remote, harsh conditions: The site, located at over 4,000m elevation in the Andes, post logistical challenges with its rugged conditions, steep grade, and temperature extremes.
  • Operational losses: The shutdown was costing Barrick thousands of dollars each minute, so a fast response was essential for minimizing economic impacts.

TrapBag® Solution

Barrick’s engineers selected 4-foot TrapBag® barriers to construct an 8-kilometer containment berm surrounding the affected area. The TrapBag system was chosen due to its:

  • Rapid deployment: Over 8 kilometers of barriers were installed in just 8 days, minimizing the environmental window of exposure.
  • Minimal equipment requirements: Lightweight, stackable, and filled in place, TrapBags required fewer machines and crew than traditional containment berm methods.
  • Custom fit to terrain: The TrapBag barriers adapted to varying slopes and substrates without the need for heavy foundation preparation or anchoring.

Installation Highlights

Deployment Speed

TrapBag® helped Barrick construct containment lines over steep, mountainous grades faster than any other viable cleanup option.

Adaptability

The barriers were installed directly over frozen ground, snow, gravel, and synthetic liners with no compromise to their integrity.

Structural Strength

Once filled, the TrapBags provided a durable vertical wall capable of holding back spilled materials and protecting areas downstream.

Performance

TrapBag® barriers performed reliably across extreme elevations, steep grades, and challenging weather conditions. The modular system allowed fast, stable containment without heavy infrastructure or deep foundation prep.

Key Outcomes

  • Mining operations resumed: Within days of installation, Barrick received clearance from regulatory authorities to restart production and was able to curb their revenue losses.
  • Environmental compliance: The barriers successfully contained the chemical spill and protected nearby water systems.
  • Public & government reassurance: Argentine officials cited the remediation work involving TrapBag’s deployment as a determining factor in reopening the mine.
  • Media coverage: National and regional media outlets reported on the speed of the containment and helped restore public trust.

Conclusion

The Veladero mine cyanide containment project in Argentina illustrates how TrapBag® can be used as a high-performance emergency containment barrier. Barrick Gold avoided extended operational downtime and protected the environment using TrapBag® as an indispensable crisis containment method.

TrapBag® was instrumental in Barrick Gold’s successful emergency response at Veladero Mine. In the face of challenging terrain, harsh weather conditions, and with minimal equipment, the team installed 8 kilometers of barriers in eight days.

Related Media Coverage & Resources

TrapBag®: When every minute counts, containment starts here.

Installation Highlights

  • 4-foot TrapBag flood barriers installed in a single layer around the perimeter to create an 8-km containment berm around the spill site.
  • UV-resistant geotextile material, filled with local gravel and rock