Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Sustainability

    South32 Hermosa project: permitting, water and tailings design notes for engineers

    March 7, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    South32 Hermosa project: permitting, water and tailings design notes for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    South32’s Hermosa zinc-silver project in Arizona has advanced towards US federal approval after the US Forest Service issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision supporting development on Coronado National Forest land, including a primary access road, secondary dry-stack tailings facility and part of a 138 kV transmission line to be built by UniSource Energy Services. The preferred alternative is designed to avoid traffic near Patagonia, minimise land disturbance on a roughly 750-acre surface footprint, and use about 90% less water than many regional mines, while incorporating nearly 140 additional conservation, mitigation and monitoring measures. A 45-day objection period plus a possible 45-day resolution phase precede a Final Record of Decision expected in July, with Hermosa projected to support up to 900 jobs at peak production.

    Technical Brief

    • US Forest Service independently assessed South32’s 2024 Mine Plan of Operations against multi-year baseline environmental datasets.
    • Selected alternative incorporates a direct discharge system high in the Patagonia Mountains to enhance aquifer recharge.
    • Dry-stack tailings facility design was updated during review, indicating iterative geotechnical and environmental optimisation.
    • Forest Service comparison concluded the chosen layout gives the smallest disturbed surface area among options assessed.
    • Impact reduction explicitly targets air quality, water resources, cultural sites, recreation areas, wildlife habitat and nearby communities.
    • Formal objection process is restricted to stakeholders who previously lodged comments under the NEPA consultation phase.

    Our Take

    Hermosa’s zinc–silver–lead–germanium mix lines up with the ‘critical minerals’ basket seen in Trilogy Metals’ Ambler district JV with South32, suggesting the company is deliberately building a North American portfolio geared to US strategic supply chains rather than bulk commodities.

    The 138 kV transmission line on Coronado National Forest land and the nearly 140 mitigation measures indicate Hermosa is being engineered to clear a high federal permitting bar; in our database, few US silver–zinc projects carry this level of pre-emptive environmental design detail at the project stage.

    South32’s recent production rebound in zinc, noted in our January coverage, means Hermosa could slot into an already improving zinc business, potentially giving the group more flexibility on timing development in Arizona against market cycles for zinc and silver.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Buffalo Potash permit at Disley: design, risk and process notes for mine engineers
    Mining
    1 day ago

    Buffalo Potash permit at Disley: design, risk and process notes for mine engineers

    Buffalo Potash has secured Saskatchewan approval to complete construction and operate its Disley initial production module, a 125,000 t/y soluble-grade potash facility 50 km northwest of Regina using a patented horizontal line-drive brine circulation method through parallel horizontal wells. The C$41.5 million module will test selective underground dissolution of potassium chloride with sodium-chloride-saturated brine and supply local agriculture, drilling-fluid markets and potassium-chloride brine for regional oilfields, ahead of planned 500,000 t/y Disley East and West expansions to about 1.13 Mt/y. The permit, which runs to 30 April and excludes future modules, requires groundwater characterisation, air-quality compliance and financial assurance, while the project proceeds without a feasibility study or declared reserves, elevating technical and economic risk.

    Exiro-led takeover of Vale’s Manitoba nickel complex: key points for mine planners
    Mining
    1 day ago

    Exiro-led takeover of Vale’s Manitoba nickel complex: key points for mine planners

    Exiro Minerals, Orion Resource Partners and Canada Growth Fund have acquired an 81.1% stake in Vale’s Thompson nickel operations in northern Manitoba, committing up to US$200 million to sustain and develop the six-decade-old complex. The new vehicle, Exiro Nickel, takes over day-to-day control of two operating underground mines, the adjacent concentrator and exploration ground along the 135 km Thompson Nickel Belt, while Vale Base Metals retains an 18.9% interest. A multi-year offtake agreement keeps Vale buying nickel concentrate from the Thompson mill, providing a defined outlet for future production.

    Mining
    1 day ago

    Moeve–Emerita 100% renewable diesel deal in Spain: decarbonisation notes for mines

    Moeve and Emerita Resources have signed Spain’s first mining-sector agreement to deploy 100% renewable diesel (HVO) at industrial scale, designating Moeve as preferred supplier of this second-generation biofuel. The HVO, derived from waste and residue feedstocks rather than food crops, is claimed to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel. For mine operators, the drop-in fuel compatibility with existing diesel engines offers a near-term route to decarbonise haul trucks and auxiliary fleets without major equipment changes.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental