INDUSTRIAL MINERALS

Two new UK contracts for Fugro

Fugro is set to continue its work at Sirius Minerals' North Yorkshire polyhalite project

Staff reporter

This article is 7 years old. Images might not display.

PRESS RELEASE: The geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions leader has won a new geotechnical package comprising seven deep boreholes in shaft and tunnel locations at the new UK mine located 3.5 kilometres south of Whitby in North Yorkshire. Fugro is undertaking strength tests of the rock formation, drilling to depths in excess of 420 metres.

The project is developing the world’s largest known high grade polyhalite deposit, a highly effective organic agricultural fertiliser. Construction includes a new mine to extract the ore, a 37-kilometre tunnel hosting an underground mineral transportation system (MTS), a granulation facility in Teesside, and an export quay on the River Tees.

Under the second contract, Fugro is carrying out an 11-month programme of seismic investigations and wireline logging which will be fully integrated with the geotechnical work to maximise both data yield and quality.

The combined programme will allow a detailed assessment of geological conditions to 500 metres depth ahead of tunnel boring machine operations along the MTS alignment.

Fugro is meeting complex project demands, requiring coordination, interpretation and quality control of ground data from several site characterisation methods, all within a tight schedule.

Comprehensive capabilities in geophysical and drilling investigation, laboratory testing and geoconsultancy are being combined to create a detailed geological model. This will help reduce uncertainty in the subsurface in order to manage risks associated with planning, design and construction. 

Rod Eddies, Fugro’s geophysical lead on the project, said: “Supporting Sirius Minerals’ project, which includes the UK’s longest tunnel scheme, presents an exciting challenge. The information we are obtaining will provide Sirius with a more complete ground model along the tunnel alignment and will help in the design and planning of the tunnel boring machine operations.”

Fugro has previously completed a series of geotechnical investigations across the project under three contract awards between 2013 and 2016. These have included preliminary geotechnical and hydrological investigations at the mine site, seven deep boreholes along the transport corridor and at the export dock, and a challenging deep inclined hole for fault characterisation.

The two latest contracts are already underway, with drilling and sampling expected to continue to the end of the year and geophysical activities to May 2018.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence: Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024

Exclusive research for Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024 shows mining companies are embracing cutting-edge tech

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets