Environmental Assessment
Volume B-2
Mine
Project Description
Ambatovy Project
12
January 2006
However, highly affected active pit sump water will be preferentially routed to
the slurry plant rather than the collection ponds.
When an area of the open pit has been mined out it will become available for
waste backfilling and/or use for low-grade storage.
The laterite material, which makes up the ore bodies, has a high moisture content,
and is soft by nature. To allow for haulage truck traffic and other equipment, it
will be necessary to plate the roads and benches with crushed rock. When
available the ferricrete cap rock will be used, and a quarry will also be developed
to supply the necessary material. The quarry will be located outside the mine
areas, probably on the road between Ambatovy and Analamay.
2.8
MINING EQUIPMENT
The main mining equipment will consist of a fleet of hydraulic shovels and
haulage trucks. The approximate fleet of equipment is summarized in
Table 2.7-1.
2.9
ORE PROCESSING PLANT
Figure 2-5 presents the general layout of the ore processing plant. This facility
will receive the ore, prepare a slurry, screen the slurry, thicken the slurry to about
40% solids and pump the slurry into the slurry pipeline.
2.10
QUARRIES
One or more will be required to supply crushed rock for the mining operations.
The effects of such operations will be assessed in an addendum to this EA.
