West Wits Mining ROM Ore Pad HDPE Geomembrane Lining - Supply, Installation & QA/QC

Project: West Wits Mining - ROM Ore Pads
Location: South Africa
Completion Date: February 2026
Contractor: Geosynthetics South Africa Pty Ltd

Geosynthetics Africa was engaged to deliver a fully engineered geomembrane containment system for ROM ore pads, including supply, logistics, installation, and full QA/QC verification.

The project required a load-bearing, puncture-resistant containment solution capable of withstanding:

• Continuous heavy equipment traffic
• High static and dynamic ore loads
• Environmental exposure
• Strict containment compliance

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ENGINEERED SYSTEM DESIGN

This was not a standard liner installation , it was a multi-layer engineered containment system designed for mining operations.

System Cross-Section (Bottom to Top)

✔ Designed for high load mining environments
✔ Engineered to prevent puncture, deformation, and leakage
✔ Fully aligned with GRI-GM13 geomembrane standards

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CRITICAL ENGINEERING FEATURES

1. Anchor Trench System

• 150 × 150 mm anchor trench on three sides
• Provides long-term liner restraint
• Prevents uplift and edge instability

2. Drainage Control System

• Perimeter drainage trench (lined)
• Controls runoff and prevents contamination migration

3. Concrete Hump Interface 

Engineering Purpose:

• Controls surface water ingress
• Protects liner at high-risk entry zone
• Provides traffic transition from haul road to lined pad
• Acts as a termination and interface boundary

Geosynthetics Africa integrated the geomembrane system into this feature, ensuring:

• Controlled liner termination
• Protection against shear stress
• Long-term durability at the most critical interface

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MATERIALS SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

Geomembrane

• Product: GSE HDPE Geomembrane
• Thickness: 1.5 mm (approved upgrade from 1.25 mm)
• Standard: GRI-GM13 compliant
• Manufacturer: GSE / Solmax

Geotextile Protection

• Product: MIRAFI S82 Nonwoven
• Function: Cushioning + puncture resistance + separation

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TRACEABILITY & MATERIAL CONTROL

All materials were:

• Manufactured in ISO-certified facilities
• Fully batch traceable
• Delivered in original labelled rolls
• Verified against factory QA documentation

📌 Full traceability records maintained in QA system

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INSTALLATION METHODOLOGY

• GSE Manufacturer Guidelines
• Group IAGI Installer Member: Geosynthetics Africa holds the membership, and Geosynthetics South Africa follows the group's installation and QA/QC procedures.
• Project-Specific Method Statements

Execution Sequence

1. Subgrade Preparation

• Inspection and approval of prepared surface
• Removal of sharp materials
• Placement of controlled sand bedding

2. Liner Deployment

• Panels installed along wind direction
• Minimum 100 mm overlaps

3. Welding Operations

• Dual-track hot wedge welding
• Extrusion welding for details and repairs

4. Protection Layer Installation

• MIRAFI S82 placed over liner
• Ensured full coverage prior to loading

5. Final Layer Placement

• Controlled placement of sand and crushed material

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WELDING & QA/QC CONTROL

Equipment

• Leister Hot Wedge Welders
• Leister Extrusion Welders
• Vacuum Testing Units
• Air Pressure Testing Systems

Welding Procedure

• Six trial welds performed
• Optimal parameters selected (temperature, speed, pressure)
• Continuous monitoring and recalibration

📌 Trial weld optimisation confirmed before production

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QUALITY ASSURANCE & TESTING

• Air Pressure Testing (double seam)
• Vacuum Box Testing
• Visual Inspection
• Trial Weld Testing

Acceptance Criteria

• Continuous weld integrity
• Zero leakage
• No voids or defects

Results

• 100% seam testing completed
• One localized defect repaired and retested
• Full system integrity confirmed

📌 Installation certified compliant post-testing

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HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

• Zero incidents recorded
• Full PPE compliance
• Controlled work zones
• Strict liner protection protocols

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PROJECT OUTCOME

✔ Fully engineered containment system delivered
✔ Installation compliant with international standards
✔ Integrated civil + geosynthetic system executed successfully
✔ System approved for operational use

📌 Final sign-off confirms compliance with all specifications

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STRATEGIC PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE

This project demonstrates Geosynthetics Africa’s capability to deliver:

1. Load-Bearing Mining Containment Systems

Not just liners - engineered operational platforms

2. Civil + Geosynthetic Integration

• Concrete interface (hump)
• Drainage systems
• Anchor trench systems

3. Full Lifecycle QA/QC

• Material traceability
• Installation QA
• Testing verification

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Why choose Geosynthetics South Africa?

We are a specialist geosynthetics engineering contractor delivering:

• HDPE Geomembrane Systems (GSE / Solmax)
• Geotextile Protection Systems (MIRAFI)
• IAGI-Compliant Installation
• Pan-African Delivery Capability

Applications

• ROM Pads
• Heap Leach Pads
• Tailings Storage Facilities
• Water Containment Systems

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Geosynthetics Africa delivers engineered containment systems - not just liners.

From material supply to final QA certification, we ensure:

✔ Structural performance
✔ Environmental compliance
✔ Long-term durability

Trusted by mines. Proven in the field. Built for Africa.