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

Esmeralda Mill

Tierra Group was contracted by Waterton Global Mining Company to prepare the FPCP for TSF No.1 at the Esmeralda Mine. TSF No.1 covered approximately 100 acres, included a rockfill embankment with a maximum height approximately 60 feet, and stored gold tailings. Work…

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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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Newcrest Red Chris Tailings Stewardship

Tierra Group provided Tailings Stewardship Services for TSFs and water dams at the Cadia, Terfer, and Red Chris properties. Responsibilities included data/report review; identifying and assisting the client with managing risks, liabilities, controls, and reporting; evaluating progress towards GISTM compliance;…

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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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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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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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Sweetwater Mine

Sweetwater Mine Permitting Tierra Group’s Team began work at the Sweetwater mine in 1993 assisting permitting and developing tailings impoundment management strategies for the mine. We successfully designed and installed an innovative internal seal for repair of the mine’s damaged…

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Mascota Mine

Creston Mascota Mine is located in Chihuahua, Mexico and is owned and operated by Agnico Eagle Mexico. Tierra Group designed the Phase 4 heap leach pad, buttress, which included geotechnical investigations, slope stability analyses and a water balance for Agnico…

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Brushy Creek

Tierra Group provided a raise design for Doe Run's Brushy Creek tailings embankment, a facility first commissioned in 1973. Cone penetration testing, liquefaction analysis, seepage modeling, and slope stability modeling were performed for the embankment. Hydrology, spillway design, and impoundment layout…

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Hollister Waste Rock Facility

Hollister Waste Rock Facility Storage Tierra Group performed a third-party peer review of a Waste Rock Storage Facility (WRSF) design at Klondex Mines’ (Klondex) Hollister Mine in northern Nevada. The WRSF, as designed, involved lining the mine’s existing West Pit…

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New Jersey Mill TSF Scoping Study

Tierra Group completed the design for two 3-meter upstream raises to an existing paste tailings storage facility at New Jersey Mining Company’s New Jersey Mill site near Kellogg, Idaho. Work included performing a cone penetration testing (CPT) investigation of the…

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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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