Cortez Mine Water Treatment System – Turnkey EPC Solution
Cortez Gold Mine | Nevada
Industry: Mining
Application: Mine Contact Water Treatment / Solids Recovery
Technology: Solids Contact Clarifier, Chemical Feed, Sludge Holding, Filter Press Dewatering
Delivery Method: Engineer, Procure & Construct (EPC)
Project Overview
Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont, operates the Cortez Gold Mine in North Central Nevada. The facility utilizes evaporation ponds to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) of mine contact water. Over time, operators observed the ponds were accumulating solids at a significantly faster rate than anticipated, threatening available storage capacity and long-term operation.
Pocock Industrial, Inc. was engaged to investigate the issue and identify a solution to remove solids upstream of the evaporation ponds. Due to a strong history of successful projects, Pocock partnered with ClearStream to develop and implement a complete turnkey treatment system.
ClearStream Solution
ClearStream provided complete Engineer, Procure, and Construct (EPC) services for a turnkey mine contact water treatment and solids recovery system at the Cortez Gold Mine. The scope of work included process design, equipment fabrication, installation, and startup of an integrated system consisting of a chemical feed system, clarifier, sludge holding tank, dewatering (filter press).
ClearStream also supplied all associated pumps, piping, valving, electrical controls, instrumentation, and interconnecting wiring, along with construction and erection of the system building. The treatment system was engineered to remove suspended solids upstream of the evaporation ponds, allowing the ponds to function as polishing ponds rather than primary settling basins while maintaining zero liquid discharge operations.
Results
The ClearStream system successfully reduced solids loading to the evaporation ponds and significantly extended pond service life. By removing approximately 30 to 50 tons per day of solids prior to discharge, Nevada Gold Mines improved overall wastewater reliability and long-term operational stability. During testing and operation, dewatered sludge was found to contain approximately 0.75 ounces of gold per ton, more than twice the anticipated concentration, creating an additional resource recovery benefit.
The project delivered a cost-effective, reliable solution that enhanced solids management, protected critical infrastructure, and improved overall mine water treatment performance.
Conclusion
ClearStream’s turnkey EPC solution provided Nevada Gold Mines with a reliable and cost-effective method to recover solids from mine contact water while extending evaporation pond life and improving overall wastewater management. The project demonstrates ClearStream’s capability to design and implement integrated treatment systems for complex mining applications.
Equipment Highlight
-
High-Rate Solids Contact Clarifier for mine contact water treatment
-
Chemical feed system for coagulation and flocculation
-
Sludge holding tank for solids thickening and storage
-
Filter press dewatering system for sludge volume reduction
-
Process pumps, piping, and valving
-
Electrical controls and instrumentation
Resources and Related Links
Mine Contact Water Treatment System – Turnkey EPC Solution, Nevada, USA