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

Newcrest Cadia 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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Pinos Altos Mine

Tierra Group provided slope stability analysis for Agnico Eagle’s dry stack tailings storage facility containing 330,000 tonnes of tailings.

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Ernesto e Pau-a-Pique

The Ernesto e Pau-a-Pique (EPP) Mine is located in the Municipality of Pontes e Lacerda, at 440 kms west of Cuiba City, Brazil. The mine is operated by Apoena Mining, a subsidiary of Aura Minerals Inc. Tierra Group was retained…

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La Negra Mine

Tierra Group performed a tailings storage facility safety (TSF) audit for the 90 m high upstream constructed tailings dam at La Negra Mine in Querétaro, Mexico. The project included a TSF dam inspection and Dam Safety Inspection Report (DSIR) containing operational…

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Stillwater Mine

Nye-Hertzler Tailings Independent Review Panel (2020-2023) Tierra Group reviewed the TSF design to support an NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility Study. The TSF design incorporated a paste tailings disposal method in an environmentally sensitive fisheries habitat. Tierra Group sits on the Independent Review…

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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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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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Topia Mine

Topia Mine Phases 1-3Tierra Group supervised the first 3 phases of Geologic Mapping and Instrumentation Installation and developed a Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall Design at Great Panther Silver’s Topia Mine in Durango, Mexico.

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Los Filos Mine

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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Black Butte Copper Project

Tierra Group performed an independent engineering design review of a Cemented Tailings Facility (CTF) and multiple processes and freshwater ponds. Tailings will be mixed with cement at the paste plant and deposited in the CTF along with underground mine development…

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Buriticá Tailings Stewardship & Cyanide Speciation

Tierra Group provided Tailings Stewardship Services for Continental Gold’s Buriticá Project in Antioquia, Columbia which included permitting support, Third-Party Review and construction and operations support. Tierra Group oversaw the development of a 2D hydrodynamic model to support the design of…

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San Francisco Mine

Tierra Group conducted geo-electrical testing to locate leaks present in the geomembrane liners underlying a Solution Conveyance Canal, Sumps 1 and 2, and the Intermediate Pond at Timmins Gold Corp’s San Francisco Mine in Sonora, Mexico. Leak detection testing procedures…

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