Mining Industry Uses & Gravity Walls

Why use TrapBag® for Mining?

TrapBag® will save you time & money! TrapBag® is versatile and may be used for other kinds of protection from security barriers to storm-water control.

We have been fully tested by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and have been approved for payment by FEMA. 

For more information about how TrapBag® barriers will help fight erosion, protect against flooding and about our ability to respond urgently to natural & man-made disasters throughout the USA & internationally, call us today (239) 229-5285!

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TrapBags used in a mining setting

Retaining walls can be used to support steep slopes when the slope cannot be naturally supported. TrapBag® mining solutions include retaining walls, as well as being used to control chemical spills & hazardous waste incidents.

MSE walls or “mechanically stabilized earth” walls are retaining walls that are composed of compacted backfill and soil reinforcement elements which are alternately layered and fixed to a wall facing. These retaining walls get their  stability from the friction between the backfill and soil reinforcements. 

Gravity Walls are retaining walls that are used in smaller areas which cannot be excavated due to less access. They can also be used in areas that need to be accessed behind the wall.

Mine Flooding Disasters can happen for many reasons, but when they do, they can cause severe issues. A main cause of mine flooding is the closure of the mine. After a mine closes operations, the maintenance stops too. Mines and tailing ponds can then flood and leach toxic materials.

How are TrapBags® used for retaining or gravity walls?

TrapBag® barriers can help the mining industry by providing retaining walls, diversion barriers, tailings dams, erosion control barriers as well as check dams and emergency containment for leachate spills. 

The TrapBag® has been used to elevate berms, contain cyanide spills, redirect mudflows and provide flood protection in the mining sector. The TrapBag® is rapidly deployable as a ready response to liquid and earthen emergencies in remote mines.

 The TrapBag® is very light and compact making it easy to transport by air as well as easy to deploy with minimal labor. One ground labor to pull out and connect the chains of cells (bags) and two 3-Meter front-end loaders can deploy and fill 100 to 150 linear meters of 1.2-Meter tall barrier per hour with minimal training. TrapBag® has worked with private sector industries as well as global governments. 

We have been fully tested by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and have been approved for payment by FEMA. 

For more information about how TrapBag® barriers will help fight erosion, protect against flooding and about our ability to respond urgently to natural & man-made disasters throughout the USA & internationally, call us today (239) 229-5285!

Do you have to put drainage behind a retaining wall?

Installing drainage is required in all applications. Hydraulic loading should be mitigated in all applications.

How are TrapBags® used for diversion barriers?

Diversion barriers are used to divert water from coming in contact with net acid-producing solid materials from mining environments. When water comes into contact with these materials, it becomes MIW — mining-influenced water. Diversion barriers can divert water to protect it from these materials OR divert MIW towards treatment/collection systems.

TrapBags® can be used as diversion barriers by forming dams, berms and other water barriers. By placing the TrapBags® along your desired barrier path and filling them with sand or gravel, you create a diversion barrier. TrapBags® come in 50ft lengths and can be connected to reach the desired length.

What are tailings from mining?

Mine tailings are any byproducts leftover from mining or extraction of resources. These include rock particles, chemicals, and water. These materials often experience chemical reactions which create more byproducts including acid and dissolved metals. These additional byproducts leach into our waterways and water supplies. Tailings are often toxic.

In order to prevent leaching, tailing ponds or “tailings impoundment areas” are used. Tailings ponds are engineered structures which are created through the implementation of dams and berms. 

It is highly important to maintain tailings ponds. If they are compromised, they can cause toxic water to leach into the surrounding environment.

How are TrapBags® used for tailings dams?

TrapBags® can be used to create and maintain tailings dams by forming dams, berms and other water barriers.  TrapBags® are stackable making them an excellent use for installing or raising tailings dams. You can stack them directly on top of each other or stair-step them up depending on what the project calls for. TrapBags® are not affected by seismic events like uncontained earthen dams are.

What is leachate and how is it managed using TrapBags®?

A leachate is a liquid which has taken on some of the constituents through which it has passed. MIW is a type of leachate. Leachates are problematic because they can be toxic to humans and the environment when they enter waterways and water supplies. There are many methods used to prevent and manage leachates such as tailings ponds and diversion barriers. 

TrapBags® can be used to create tailings ponds, diversion barriers, etc. TrapBags® are great to use to contain leachate not only because they’re made out of a high-strength geotextile but because the configuration of the TrapBag® system allows you to design many different leachate containment configurations.

You can't always predict,
but you can always be prepared.

For immediate assistance please call (239) 674-6611.
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