Black Thunder Mine
Overview
Geotechnical Support for Infrastructure Upgrades
Advanced Geotechnical Solutions (AGS) provided geotechnical engineering and subsurface exploration for infrastructure upgrades at Black Thunder Mine. The project was split into three scopes: Central Facilities Expansion, Parking Lot Improvements, and Fuel Storage Tank Siting.
- For the Central Facilities, AGS performed borings, lab testing, and foundation analysis to support new structures on variable mine spoils.
- The Parking Lot scope involved shallow testing to guide pavement design and grading.
- The Fuel Tank portion evaluated deep, reclaimed fill—up to 200 feet thick—to determine the safest location for a 420,000-gallon tank.
Challenge
Unpredictable mine spoils and potential voids made settlement a major concern, especially under heavy structures.
Solution
AGS recommended geosynthetic-reinforced foundations, including ring wall and mat slab systems, to stabilize critical infrastructure and reduce settlement risks.
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