West Wits Mining ROM Ore Pad HDPE Geomembrane Lining – Supply, Installation & QA/QC — Case Study

Case Study Brief

West Wits Mining required a lined ROM ore pad to manage contact water beneath the ore-handling area. Geosynthetics Africa supplied and installed a 1.5 mm GSE® HDPE geomembrane with MIRAFI® protection geotextile over the prepared subgrade. The installation scope covered panel deployment, welded seams, perimeter anchorage and detailing. The approved subgrade and compaction requirements formed the foundation for the lining works; protection geotextile reduced direct contact between the membrane and the supporting surface. Welding and inspection followed the project requirements. Applicable non-destructive seam checks and destructive seam samples supported quality control, with repairs checked before handover. These tests assess the seams and inspected areas; they do not establish a permanent guarantee against leakage. The completed lining provided the project’s engineered containment barrier. Operational protection and final acceptance remain governed by the approved design and project documentation.

MIRAFI S82 Protection Textile (Top Protection) being Laid on Geomembrane

The Installation Challenge

The 5,100 m² ROM ore pad required a protected containment barrier integrated with the subgrade, perimeter anchorage and drainage interfaces. Panel deployment and seam control had to fit the civil works and preserve the installed liner.

The prepared formation was reviewed before protection geotextile and 1.5 mm GSE® HDPE panels were placed. Welding, perimeter details and applicable seam checks were coordinated with the project’s civil interfaces, with repair and retest records supporting acceptance.

Installation Sequence

Review subgrade and interfaces

Check the prepared formation and confirm the locations of anchorage, drainage and other civil interfaces.

Place geotextile and liner panels

Deploy the specified protection geotextile and 1.5 mm HDPE geomembrane, maintaining roll and panel identification.

Weld and detail the lining

Complete field seams, perimeter restraint and interfaces to the project requirements.

Inspect and compile the handover record

Apply the appropriate seam-test methods, repair and retest identified defects, and assemble the traceability and as-built records.

Field Quality Assurance (QA/QC) Checklist

Quality checks recorded on this installation.

Formation review: check the approved G6 subgrade material, specified compaction target and removal of sharp or damaging features before deployment.

Trial seams: assess welding parameters against site conditions before production welding and following relevant changes.

Non-destructive seam checks: use air-channel testing for suitable dual-track seams and vacuum-box testing where applicable; record the method and result for each checked seam.

Material traceability: connect roll and panel identification to the supplied manufacturer documentation.

Repair controls: record identified defects, complete the required repair and apply the appropriate retest.

Handover review: assemble installation, test and as-built records against the project acceptance requirements; distinguish material properties from field installation acceptance.

Products Used in Project

Products supplied and installed on this project.

Geomembranes

GSE HD Smooth Geomembrane Liner

Quantity: 5100 m²

Geotextiles

Mirafi® S

Quantity: 5100

“In-house project comment: For this ROM pad, supply and installation had to align with the civil works. The protection layer, liner detailing and seam records were managed as parts of one containment scope.

Ivan M

Project Manager · Geosynthetics Africa — internal project team

West Wits Mining ROM Ore Pad HDPE Geomembrane Lining – Supply, Installation & QA/QC — 5100 m²