Mining

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) in Folsom, Pennsylvania is involved in many critical aspects of the geosynthetics industry, such as research, accreditation, specification development, and much more. It consists of 71 member organizations (both public and private), nearly half of which are international. And now…the Institute's website has been given a new look. Check it out. Learn more here.;

Solmax International Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of polyethylene geomembrane, announces that the lengths of some of its standard textured products have been optimized. This initiative, which began in 2008 for products shipped by container, is now also in effect for our intermodal and truck deliveries. This not only enhances our land shipment loading, but also means that the inherent transportation costs of your projects will be reduced.

New Civil Engineer (NCE) Insight is a magazine targetted to students, parents, advisors, and others on potential careers in civil engineering. The Autumn 2009 issue is available online. Read it today. Learn more here.;

Amid a privatization campaign in Iran in past years, companies linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard have won tens of billions in no-bid government contracts under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, himself an alumnus. This includes the deeply entrenched Khatam al-Anbia, an engineering firm working in mining, construction, oil and gas, and other lucrative sectors. International sanctions on Iran might further strengthen the Guard by removing the little international competition it and its companies face. Learn more here.;

Waterproof Membranes 2009 is almost here! The event takes place in Duesseldorf, Germany from 19-21 October. Companies from all over the world will gather to discuss the latest in geotechnical and architectural waterproofing technologies. Greenroofs, HDPE geomembranes, thin-film solar laminates atop exposed TPO membrane caps on landfills, and much more. Will you be there? Presentations and attendees include companies such as Colbond, Dow, GSE Lining Technology GmbH, Agru, Sotrafa, SENSOR, and many others. Geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey will be there presenting and covering the event. If your company will have a representative there, please let Chris know so he can be sure to include your firm in the conference coverage.

Around the world, polymeric materials such as geosynthetics have become crucial to safe and successful long-term infrastructure performance. In the Middle East and Gulf region, geosynthetic use is on the rise not only to support major construction projects but because the region's polymeric materials industry is maturing rapidly. It will soon be a major production center. One of the most important geosynthetics used in today's infrastructure is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane. On 12 November 2009, Dr. Ian D. Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc., will present a full-day workshop titled "HDPE Geomembrane Liner Performance: the Reality." Learn more.

The 5th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics--Geosynthetics Asia 2012--will be held 10-14 December 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. IGS Thailand will host and the event will be held under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The deadline for submission of abstract to GA2012 is 31 May 2011. Download an information sheet in PDF. Learn more here.;

Though it will not be held until 2012, a website has already been launched for EuroGeo 5--the Fifth European Regional Conference on Geosynthetics. The host chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will be IGS Spain. Valencia will serve as the conference location. As of now, the dates for the event will be 16-19 September 2012. Learn more about IGS Spain at the event website. Learn more here.;

On 12 November 2009, Dr. Ian D. Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc., will present a full day workshop during which three of the primary topics of SKZ's 2nd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East will be discussed in greater detail. This in-depth event, "HDPE Geomembrane Liner Performance: the Reality," will address liner leakage, allowable leakage, liner integrity surveys and methods, understanding failure, predicting failure and end of useful service life, and more. Please share the PDF registration form for this important session with your colleagues in Dubai and nearby in the Gulf region. Register by October 14 to secure your seats!

Coastal roads and harbours are traditionally protected from sea erosion by giant blocks of rock or geosynthetic bags filled with material, all locally sourced where possible. In the Arctic and other cold northern regions, where good quality material is often scarce, the prohibitive economic and environmental cost of importing suitable matter has led to a demand for solutions that make use of whatever low quality soil or other material is available.

TRI/Environmental, Inc. (TRI) has achieved independent, third party accreditation for its large scale erosion control testing and research laboratory by the Geosynthetic Accreditation Institute (GAI), which is part of the Folsom, Pennsylvania-based Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). This TRI facility, in upstate South Carolina at the Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF), compliments TRI's industry-leading index and bench-scale erosion and sediment control testing capabilities. With over 1.2 sq. km of working area, this research farm employs various sloping terrain and water from four ponds. Additionally, DDRF has numerous structures housing covered research and testing, and material and equipment storage. Read more about this industry first.

Pierre Pomerleau, Eng., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pomerleau Inc., will speak on promising applications for textiles at Expo Hightex on Wednesday, 7 October 2009, at the Bonsecours Market in Montréal. Since he became president of Pomerleau and Beaubois, respectively major construction and architectural carpentry firms, the group's growth has been reflected in an increase in sales, from CDN $200 million to nearly CDN $800 million. This business leader sees Canadian textiles playing increasingly important role in construction projects.

The deadline for sending an offer of a paper at Middle East Plastic Pipes 2010 is fast approaching. Please send a short summary and speaker name to me before 15th November 2009 at sh@amiplastics.com. Middle East Plastic Pipes 2010 will be held from 17-19 May 2010 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Jack-Gregor Tcherniavsky, the managing director of Tencate Geosynthetics Africa region, has been quoted in an article about the coming oil industry in Uganda. Geosynthetics will play a role in the country's infrastructure growth andin the oil sector's development. As the former may be reliant on the latter's success, geosynthetics perhaps stand to be of special interest. For example, "there will be a need to build more roads and more infrastructure," Mr, Tcherniavsky said. Learn more here.;

Intruders invaded Tanzania's third leading gold producer, North Mara Gold Mine and stole pond liners from the mine's waste ponds over the weekend, a spokesman for Tanzania Barrick Ltd., a unit of Canada-based Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), owners of the mine, said Tuesday. The intruders stole around 90 square meters of pond liners on Oct. 3 and took 110 square meters on Oct. 4. The liners have been replaced. Learn more here.;

Santa Fe Gold Corporation has announced that the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer has issued a permit required to proceed with construction of the tailings dam impoundment at the Banner Mill located near Lordsburg, New Mexico. The company expects to complete construction of the tailings impoundment during the current quarter and to begin processing operations shortly thereafter. This includes the installation of geomembrane.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has regulatory authority over more than 31,000 facilities across the state, all of which may now be readily identified on an interactive Web-based map. ADEQ launched its easy-to-use interactive map viewer, known as "EnviroView," earlier this month. The feature is available to the public and is accessible from the department's Web site, www.adeq.state.ar.us.

Frontier Refining Inc. has been fined nearly $7 million and ordered to shut down a wastewater management pond for the improper storage of hazardous waste. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes the improper storage has gone on for nine years. Ponds might not have had liners. Learn more here.;

New York State officials have completed new environmental regulations for natural gas drilling that will clear the way for well permits in New York's part of the Marcellus Shale region which covers parts of four states. One of the main changes is that handling and disposal of wastewater that comes back up from wells after fracturing must be stored in steel tanks on the site or piped to a central storage pit using a double-liner system similar to those required at landfills. Learn more here.;

On 29 January 2010, ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) will host a workshop in San Antonio, Texas on "Geosynthetic Material Durability: Field and Laboratory Experiences." David Suits, executive director of the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), reports that GRI's Bob and George Koerner are still open for receiving abstracts for the event. This one-day sympomsium will not require a full paper; only an extended abstract. For more information, please contact George Koerner at gkoerner@dca.net or Sam Allen at SAllen@tri-env.com. Learn more here.;

A ceremonial launch of a new unit for flat geogrid production under the trade mark Apropat took place at Plastik plant, a subsidiary enterprise of SIBUR. The design capacity of the unit is 3 kta. According to current forecasts of the market conditions, when the design capacity of flat geogrid production is attained, the annual earnings of the enterprise will increase by 550 million RUR. A similar geogrid production unit with 3 kta capacity was commissioned in August 2009 at Orton, another enterprise of SIBUR in the Kemerovo Region.

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009. View the flyer in PDF.

You can still save up to 50% on your conference costs for the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG). The conference is offering its very early-bird rates through 10 October 2009. Add to it the early booking discount for hotel, and those who take advantage of registering now will save more than $700. The 9ICG will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil, under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Please register as soon as possible. Learn more here.;

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez proposed on Sunday that South American and African nations unite to create a cross-continental mining corporation to keep control of their resources. "Africa and South America are rich lands, yet their peoples are poor, because they have been exploited," Chavez told a summit attended by 28 African and South American leaders. Learn more here.;

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009. View the flyer in PDF.