Statement of Qualifications

Civil engineering is designing, constructing, and maintaining physical structures, and comprises at least a partial component of nearly everything Tierra Group International, Ltd. does. Whether applying our core, geotechnical, water resources, or geologic hazards expertise, inevitably our work leads to modifications made to the natural environment or the construction of man-made structures. Tierra Group applies its civil engineering expertise to the conception, design, construction, and operations of physical structures such as:

  • Tailings Dams
  • Water Dams
  • Heap Leach Pads
  • Waste Rock Dumps
  • Retaining Walls
  • Hydraulic Structures - Canals, Channels, Head Structures, Culverts, Pipelines, and Ponds
  •  Infrastructure - Foundations, Roads, Bridge Abutments

Tierra Group has applied our professional civil engineering expertise designing and constructing dozens of these structures on six continents. This geographic variety has allowed Tierra Group’s Team to develop expertise designing facilities under a variety of challenging geotechnical conditions and climates, such as:

  • Laterites
  • Saprolites
  • Swelling or Collapsible Soils
  • Karst
  • High and Active Seismicity (Earthquakes)
  • High Altitudes (4,000 masl)
  • Tropics

Tierra Group has innovatively adapted to these challenging environments using highly-trained professionals and state-of-the-art techniques and software to execute the following:

  • Conceptual Plans
  • Feasibility Designs
  • Final Engineering Designs
  • “For Construction” Drawings
  • Construction Specifications
  • Resident Engineering
  • Quality Assurance

Regardless of the engineering challenges posed, Tierra Group’s broad experience, intimate attention to site-specific conditions, and keen focus on developing innovative solutions has earned us a respected reputation and loyal clients around the world.


Select Civil Projects

Hod Mine Waste Dump and Surface Water Management Design

Tierra Group provided design review and technical direction at Hod Mine in the Artvin Province of Turkey. Work included detailed design of potentially acid generating and non-acid generating waste dump facilities, their appurtenant structures and stormwater management design for the…

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El Gallo Mine

El Gallo is a 3,000 tpd open-pit gold/silver mine located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Mexico’s Sinaloa State. Gold is recovered through heap leaching and adsorption/desorption/recovery (ADR). Production commenced at El Gallo with the first gold pour in September…

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Minera Plata Real | Los Gatos TSF Design and CQA

Tierra Group’s work included the design and construction quality assurance (CQA) of a new tailings storage facility (TSF) at the Los Gatos Project in Chihuahua, Mexico.

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San Antonio HLF

Tierra Group provided detailed design and Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) services on a new heap leach pad at the San Antonio Project in Mexico.

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Palmarejo Mine

Tierra Group performed an initial site visit to Coeur Mining’s Palmarejo Mine to conduct dam safety inspections of the tailings storage facility, environmental control dam, water diversion dam, and water diversion channel. Prior to the site visit, Tierra Group reviewed…

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Cerro Negro

Tierra Group was selected to assist Goldcorp with global Tailings Stewardship Strategy (TSS) implementation at all of Goldcorp’s active tailings sites in Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, and Guatemala). Tierra Group worked in conjunction with Goldcorp and another global engineering consulting…

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American Gypsum

American Gypsum Pit Planning and Support Tierra Group began working at American Gypsum’s Eagle-Gypsum mine located in Gypsum, Colorado in 2014 evaluating haul road improvements. A trade-off study provided a tool for American Gypsum to evaluate safety improvements including alternative haul road…

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Marlin Mine

Tierra Group provides Tailings Stewardship Services for the Marlin Mine Tailings Storage Facility. Tierra Group performed a 5-year Dam Safety Review consistent with the Canadian Dam Association protocols, a Facilitated Risk Assessment, site training and in depth inspections of management…

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Gediktepe Peer Review

Tierra Group provided technical direction and review of the Gediktepe Heap Leach Facility (HLF), ponds, and waste rock dump facility designs. Tierra Group will also provide CQA review during HLF construction.

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Rosario Mine

Tierra Group performed a Dam Safety Review (DSR) including geotechnical investigations and seepage and slope stability analyses for a 20-m high TSF at this 300‑tpd underground polymetallic mine. The audit was prepared following the Mt. Polley tailings dam failure in…

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Campo Morado Mine

Tierra Group performed a Dam Safety Review (DSR) for Nyrstar’s tailings storage facility (TSF) located in Campo Morado (Guerrero, Mexico).  Tierra Group served as the Tailings Reviewer to ensure conformity with local regulations, the Nyrstar Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) Standard,…

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Pierina Mine

Barrick Gold Corporation’s Pierina Mine in Ancash Department, Perú began operations in 1998. A progressive reclamation and closure plan began in 2013.  In 2015-16 Tierra Group developed detailed engineering designs for channels, sediment traps, two 45,000 m3 sediment ponds, water…

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