(Editors at Energy Analytics Institute, 15.Jan.2025) — SSR Mining, following the Çöpler Incident, commissioned Call & Nicholas, Inc. (CNI) to conduct an independent review of the heap leach failure at Çöpler.
After analysis of the engineering design, construction, and operation of the heap leach facility, and comprehensive reverse-engineering of the failure, CNI determined that the most likely cause of the Çöpler Incident was a deeply-rooted flaw in the third-party engineered design of the heap leach pad.
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“The review found that in the third-party engineered design, the assessment of the test data overestimated the shear strength properties of the liner system at the base of the heap leach, which inflated the calculated factor of safety values in the third-party engineered design. This error resulted in insufficient shear strength along the liner interface to support the as-designed heap leach facility,” SSR Mining announced 15 Jan. 2025 in an official statement.
CNI—an international mining consulting firm that specializes in geological engineering, geotechnical engineering, and hydrology— also determined “that in all material respects, the heap leach pad construction and operation was carried out in conformance with the issued-for-construction engineered design parameters. In addition, CNI’s review did not find any substantiation that excess water, ground vibrations from blasting, nor stacking beyond the design caused the event,” SSR Mining said.
SSR Mining executive chairman Rod Antal said the review provides some reassurance to the team on the ground as the company looks to there was restart the Çöpler mine.
“We remain deeply saddened by the profound impact of this tragedy and we remain committed to Çöpler, the local communities and Türkiye.”
SSR Mining continues to work closely with the relevant authorities to advance the required permits for the restart of the Çöpler mine. At this time, we are not able to estimate or predict when and under what conditions we will resume operations at Çöpler,” Antal said.
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By Editors at Energy Analytics Institute. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.