Overview
The Coeur Rochester mine is a silver and gold operation situated in Pershing County, Nevada, characterized by its open-pit mining and heap leaching processes. The operation comprises of the primary Rochester deposit, the neighboring Nevada Packard deposit to the southwest of the Rochester mine, and additional deposits including Lincoln Hill, Gold Ridge, and Wilco.
In 2011, mining activities and production were fully reinstated, and they have steadily expanded ever since. With the completion of the mine’s expansion project, it was evident that an effective monitoring system was needed to properly monitor operations more efficiently.
Canary Systems Advantages
Efficiency
The integration of multiple instruments and data types improved the efficiency of data collection and reduced the manual effort required for monitoring.
Centralized Access
MLWeb provided a centralized hub for geotechnical engineers and mine personnel, offering a single point of access to all relevant data sources.
Automated Monitoring
The implemented system allowed for automated monitoring, enabling quick response to any changes or anomalies in the recorded data.
What We Did
Canary Systems was tasked with developing the instrumentation setup for the operation’s mine. The goal was to streamline data collection, enhance monitoring efficiency, and provide a centralized platform to access critical data. The implementation involved the installation of 15 MLRemotes and 2 MLGPS systems.
To achieve comprehensive monitoring, 15 MLRemotes were installed to establish a seamless connection with several piezometers strategically placed in the dumping area. These instruments were crucial for automated monitoring of groundwater levels and pressure changes.
The placement of the MLGPS atop the mine dumping area serves the purpose of measuring 3D movement, monitoring the slope of the mine, and detecting any potential deformation. This positioning facilitates continuous monitoring and accurate assessment of changes in the mine slope over time. The second MLGPS functions as a base for gathering and transmitting data to the server.
Canary Systems’ responsibility also included the integration of 50 prisms (that were previously installed in the pit and being read by a total station) into the monitoring platform.
Integration
Canary Systems successfully integrated the data collected from the multiple sources of instrumentation into the web-based software platform MLWeb. The platform provided a unified view of all instrumentation and data sources, consolidating information for simplified access and analysis. This approach not only facilitated a unified view of all instrumentation but also streamlined access and analysis of data.
Within the platform, alarms can be directly configured according to predefined tolerances, alerting staff of any deviations in the collected data. For in-depth analysis, graphical outputs can be generated for visual overview.