Statement of Qualifications

Mankind lives on the earth. Everything built, either originated from, is built on, or interacts with, the earth. Geology is the science of the earth. Geotechnical Engineering is the application of geology and mathematics to use Earth’s natural resources to build infrastructure. Tierra Group International, Ltd. applies its geotechnical expertise to the conception, design, construction, and operations of physical structures for the mining industry, including:

  • Foundations
  • Tailings Dams
  • Water Dams
  • Heap Leach Pads
  • Mine Pits
  • Waste Rock Dumps
  • Hydraulic Structures (Canals, Channels, Pipelines, etc.)
  • Civil Infrastructure (Plants, Buildings, Roads, Bridges, etc.)

Tierra Group has applied its 100+ years combined professional geological and engineering expertise consulting on, or 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 challenging geotechnical conditions such as:

  • Laterites
  • Saprolites
  • Swelling or Collapsible Soils
  • Karst
  • Variable Geology
  • Highly and Active Seismicity (Earthquakes)
  • High Altitudes (4,000-m amsl)
  • Tropics

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

  • Site Characterization
  • Soil/Rock Mechanics
  • Geologic Hazards - Landslide, Rock Fall, Avalanches, Seismic (Earthquakes)
  • Geotechnical Analyses - Slope, Stability, Seepage, Settlement, Consolidation, Deformation, Liquefaction
  • Civil Design and Specifications
  • Construction Documents
  • Resident Engineering
  • Quality Assurance
  • Operations Support
  • Forensics and Mitigation
  • Peer Reviews

Regardless of the geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Projects

Aranzazú Mine

The Aranzazú Mine is a copper-gold-silver mine located in the northeastern region of Zacatecas, Mexico. The mine includes both open pit and underground operations. The mill currently processes 2,600 tonnes of ore per day. Tierra Group finalized the geotechnical investigation…

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Çöpler Tailings Storage Facility and Heap Leach Facility Technical Review

Tierra Group has a history of annually providing third-party technical reviews for the tailings storage facility and heap leach facility at Anagold's Çöpler Gold Mine in Middle Anatolia, Turkey. Additionally, Tierra Group currently performs independent technical reviews for the rockfill…

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Goldfield Bonanza Project

Lode-Star Gold, Inc., in advance of their proposed mining operations, submited a Physical Separation Facility application with the State of Nevada for their Goldfield Bonanza Project located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The mine, located in the historic high-grade gold-bearing district of…

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Sepon Mine CQA

Tierra Group performed Resident Engineering and Construction Quality Control/Assurance during a pilot Heap Leach Facility construction, and Life of Mine Heap Leach and Tailings Sorage Facility siting, design, and tailings management at Lane Xang Minerals' Sepon Mine in Laos.

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Lost Creek Project | USA

Tierra Group is assisting Millcreek Mining and Black Mountain Sand with the preparation of permitting documents for the Lost Creek Project; including a preliminary Stormwater Management Plan, preliminary Groundwater Monitoring Plan, and general permitting exhibits. Tierra Group conducted a site geotechnical…

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El Mochito Mine

El Mochito is an underground zinc/silver mine located in the Santa Barbara Mountains in north-central Honduras. Tierra Group’s Team has been providing Tailings Stewardship Services at El Mochito continuously for the past 26 years. Since 1989, Tierra Group engineers have provided…

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San Bartolome Mine | NI 43-101 Tailings Technical Review & Report

Tierra Group performed an Independent Tailings Technical Review to support the San Bartolomé Mine Prefeasibility Study (PFS) NI 43-101 Technical Report (TR). SRK Consulting Inc. (SRK) is the primary TR author. Tierra Group will provided a Qualified Person (QP) to oversee…

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Tonopah Flats | Tailings Storage Facility

Tierra Group assisted with developing tailings disposal alternatives.

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North Mara Mine | Tailings Assurance Audit

Tierra Group completed a TAA for the North Mara Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). The TAA was completed to ensure the TSF and site operations complied with Barrick’s Tailings Management Standard, which closely mirrors the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM)…

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Peñasquito

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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Jaguar Mines

Jaguar's gold operations, Turmalina, Paciência and Caeté, are located in the Iron Quadrangle region, a prolific greenstone belt near the city of Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Jaguar controls 27,357 hectares of mineral concessions in this…

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Anglo American Quellaveco Mine | Perú

Tierra Group supervised a geotechnical and hydrogeologic drilling investigation program at Anglo American’s Quellaveco Mine in the Moquegua Region of Peru. Geotechnical Investigation Tierra Group developed a geotechnical and hydrogeological research plan within and near the Quellaveco Pit footprint. This…

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