NEWS ARTICLE ARCHIVES
Ravensthorpe Nickel -
Mirafi® Geotextiles
BHP Billiton has responded to a
substantial increase in demand for stainless steel
with the construction of the Ravensthorpe Nickel
Mine and Yabulu Refinery - a combined US$1.4b project.
This venture is the next step in BHP's global nickel
growth strategy since the successful Cerro Matso
expansion in Columbia.
Activities at the Western Australian
site commenced in May 2004 and the first shipments
of processed nickel and cobalt ore are expected
to be shipped via the Port of Esperance by the 2nd
qtr of 2007.
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The initial ore treatment
method requires construction of various
process water reservoirs. These 'northern'
& 'southern' ponds (approx 7 in
total) are dedicated to storing, raw,
desalinated, hyper saline & storm
water. Each pond has been lined with
a 1.5mm fabricated HDPE membrane, underlain
with 55,000m2 of Mirafi 180N & 1100N
non-woven geotextiles. The function
of the Mirafi 180N & 1100N is to
provide protection to the membrane.
The geotextile provides a "cushioning"
layer between the course subgrade and
membrane.
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Combinations of Mirafi 180N &
1100N non-woven geotextile were selected by the
specialist liner contractor, Ertech Lining.
Mirafi® Non-woven geotextiles
offer unique features and properties:
- Chemical Stability - Mirafi
180N & 1100N geotextiles are made from highly
chemically stable polypropylene fibres. Polypropylene
are generally safe within a pH range of 2 (acid)
to 12 (alkaline)
- Specific Gravity - The specific
gravity of polypropylene is 0.91 compared to
that of polyester, 1.3. For the same mass of
geotextile, polypropylene fabrics provide 40%
extra "bulk" compared to polyester fabrics.
- Staple Fibre - Staple fibres
are short "crimped" fibres that offer greater
abrasion resistance than 'continuous filament'
geotextiles.
- Interface Friction - Polypropylene
Staple Fibre geotextiles offer high interface
frictional coefficient between membrane and
fabric surface.
- UV Stabilised - Mirafi®
geotextiles are stabilised with carbon black.
- Quality Assurance - Mirafi®
geotextiles are manufactured to the most stringent
international standards ISO 9001 and tested
to ISO 9003, A2LA and NATA certified laboratories.
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