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SECURITY REPORT
,,Gold–silver ore mining of Certej perimeter”
Chapter 2
2010
Drawn up by S.C. OCON ECORISC S.R.L. Turda
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II. The environment and the site location
A. Description of the site and of the environment
1. General information
The aim of the ,,Gold–silver ore mining of Certej perimeter” is the development and the
expansion of the gold and silver ore exploitations near Certejul de Sus village, Hunedoara
County, Romania, providing economic development of the area and of the infrastructure and
providing environmental protection.
The importance of the new site is both economical and social. The main activity in this
area is mining, providing necessary means of a decent life to people living here.
In 2006, a series of pit optimizations drawings were completed. The model that has been
chosen based on chemical and mineral composition and on the results of the metallurgical test-
works, that involved minimal exploitation costs, comprise 4 distinct mineralogical domain such
as:
1. West - Hondol,
2. Central – Coranda,
3. Intermediary – area between Certej pit and Dealul Grozii (Grozii Hill)
4. East – Dealul Grozii (Grozii Hill).
The main stages of the activities development within this project are the following:
Construction stage
The estimated period of time for construction of the project’s facilities is approximately 3
years. Some of the construction activities will continue during the operation period (dam rises of
both TMFs as result of tailings impoundment and construction of the waste dumps by dumping
the stripping material from the open pit).
Operating stage
The activities performed at the Certej site will comprise conventional activities specific
for an open pit mining using drill hole blasting, ore loading with hydraulic excavators and ore
transportation by trucks.
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Closure stage
The period of time estimated for the activities performed in the mine closure stage is 5
years. Detailed information on the closure stage is described in the “Mine closure and
rehabilitation plan” drawn-up by the main planner.
The architectural and urban land planning survey of the area is 456.2 hectares, according
to the land studies.
- the surface used for works related to the project is 300.5 hectares, approximately 65.87 %;
- the surface used in the peripheral protection area is 155.7ha, approx. 34.13 % (there will be
no changes of land use in this area).
The actual surfaces of the land used according to the project are described in Table 2.1
while the suggested surface that will be exploited is described in Table 2.2
Table 2.1 Actual surfaces of land
USAGE SURFACE
(hectares)
FORESTS 187. 0
HAY 30.7
ARABLE LAND 5.3
AREAS FOR HOUSES 18.7
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS 3.2
INDUSTRIAL AREAS 55.6
SUPRAFAŢA TOTALĂ 300.5
Table 2.2 Suggested surface
No. LOCATION SURFACE
(hectares)
MAIN INDUSTRIAL AREA
1. Certej open pit 62.8
2. North dump 32.6
3. South dump 40.2
4. Processing plant 20.9
5. Access roads (outside the processing plant) 6.9
6. Offices and other buildings (outside the processing plant) 0.2
7. Vegetal soil dumps 7.7
8. Protection areas between buildings (green areas) 65.3
TOTAL main industrial area 236.8
SECONDARY INDUSTRIAL AREA
9. Flotation TMF and CIL TMF 63.6
TOTAL INDUSTRIAL AREA 300.5
Protected area 155.7
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TOTAL SURFACE OF THE STUDIED AREA 456.2
Geographical coordinates (ETRS 89) of the site (measured in the central point of the
former open pit site) are the following:
- 45º 59 ' 30, 94" North;
- 23º 00 ' 34, 82" East.
2. Location of the site
The mining site Certej in Hunedoara County is located in the South-East of Metaliferi
Mountains, being part of the so-called Săcărâmb – Brad - Roşia Montană -Baia de Arieş gold
quadrangle. Certej is located near Hondol locality, in the southern and central part of Brad –
Săcărâmb Neogene basin, at approximately 20km NE from Deva town.
The map describing the location is presented in Appendix 2.1.
The gold ore deposit within the Certej perimeter is located on the administrative territory
of Certej commune, Bocşa locality, within the built-up and outside the built –up area of the
locality. The Certej mining site is located within the built-up and outside the built –up area of the
locality and it comprises the Corandă Certej open pit, the processing plant, access roads and
waste dump areas.
Appendix 2.2 “General lay-out” shows the location of the processing plant
a. The open pit
Certej open pit is located inside the built –up area of Bocşa Mică village, Certej
Commune, Hunedoara County, having a total surface of de 62.8 hectares being next to:
North – Forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
East – Forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
South – Bocşa Mică village,
West - Valea Măcrişului – Pârâul lui Avram creeks
Appendix 2.2 General layout of Certej project main facilities (the open pit is numbered
with 1)
b. North waste dump
The North waste dump will be located along Valea Corănzii creek, having a total surface
of 32. 61 hectares. At present, the land surface is afforested with threes, bushes or covered with
grass, bordered by:
North – Forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
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East – the processing plant
South – The open pit,
West - Valea Măcrişului – Pârâul lui Avram creeks
Appendix 2.2 “General layout” shows the North waste dump (numbered with 2)
c. South waste dumps
The South waste dumps will be placed along Valea Băiegii creek, having a total surface
of 40.2 hectares, bordered by:
North – the open pit,
East – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
South – Bocşa Mică village ,
West - Valea Măcrişului – Pârâul lui Avram creeks.
Appendix 2.2 “General layout” shows the South waste dump (numbered with 3)
d. The processing plant
The processing plant will be located near the open pit. Its location has been chosen due to
its proximity with the open pit. The open pit will provide the entire quantity of ore that will be
processed within the plant. The borders of the processing plant are:
North – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
East – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
South – the open pit,
West – the North waste dumps
The location of the processing plant ensures protection of sensitive places such as houses
or watercourses, as they are located at adequate distances from the site. Moreover the settlement
of the processing plant provides easier access to transportation and to electrical networks in the
areas.
Appendix 2.2 “General lay-out” shows the location of the processing plant (numbered
with 4) - the processing plant.
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e. Flotation Tailings Management Facility
Flotation tailings management facility will be located along Valea Măcrişului creek, at
approx. 2km N-W from the processing plant and open pit site. Its borders are the following:
North – West: CIL TMF
East – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
South – East: processing plant,
South - North waste dumps
The access to the downstream face of the dam will be achieved by 8 m width access road,
the slope between the berms are 1:1.4. The size and the constructive elements of the flotation
tailings management facility are described in Appendix 2.2 “General lay-out” Flotation TMF
(is numbered with 5).
f. CIL Tailings Management Facility
The tailings resulted from the ALBION – CIL process will be deposited in the CIL
tailing management facility, located in Valea Măcrişului, upstream to the Flotation TMF, being
bordered by:
North – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
East – forest (owned by Forest Range Geoagiu),
South –East: Flotation TMF
West - Valea Măcrişului – Pârâul lui Avram creeks.
The access to the downstream face of the dam will be achieved by 8 m width access road,
having 10% maximum slope angle.
Appendix 2.2 “General lay-out” CIL tailings management facility (is numbered with 6).
g. Storehouse for explosive materials
The existent storehouse for explosive materials (rehabilitated) will be used. This
storehouse is located on Valea Ciongani (Valea Bocşa Mică) valley, between the elevation of
Orizont 600 (West) and +650m (East) waste dumps and is bordered by particular properties.
Appendix 2.3 “General lay-out” shows the location of the storehouse for explosive
materials (numbered with 7).
h. Fuel storehouse
The fuel storehouse is a building made of reinforced concrete having the dimension of
12m x 14m and a total capacity of 180 m3. The storehouse comprises 3 metallic tanks located
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underground. Each tank has an access door and air lines.
3. Hydrology
The area which will serve for ore mining, waste rocks dumping, ore processing and
tailings impoundment is located near the following streams/creeks:
- Valea Măcrişului valley;
- Corănzii valley;
- Băiegii valley;
All these small streams are tributary of Hondol valley. Valea Certejului is the main water
collector in this area, being at the same time the tributary of Mures River. Valea Certejului has
the following tributary streams: Făerag and Mireşului creeks on the right side, while Hondol,
Ciongani and Valea Nojagului creeks on the left side. According to the National Environmental
Protection Action Plan of Hunedoara County, the control of the surface water quality during
2002-2005 shows that the entire flow-rates of Certej stream (around 18km) was spoiled.
The watercourses are characterized by quick falls, while the annual average flows are
insignificant. During heavy rainfalls, the water level can increase and due to powerful streams
leading to severe floods that have a negative impact. Such natural hazards took place in 1970,
1975 and 1980.
4. Geology
The area of Certej ore deposit - Hondol – Băiaga – Coranda – Dl. Grozii structure
is located in the southern part of the tectonic and magmatic basin of “Brad-Săcărâmb” between
Hondol, Bocşa Mare and Bocşa Mică villages. From the geological point of view, the lithology
consists of basic volcanic rocks and Cretaceous deposits – the Mesozoic basin as well as
Neogene volcanic-sedimentary deposits. The pre-Neogene complex is prevailing of flysch
deposits consisting of sandy-siltic –clayey sequences with isolated basalt inter-layers and
associated spillitic and pyroclastic lavas. Basic rocks outcrop on restrictive areas in the Eastern
part of Hondol. The drill holes performed on flysch deposit at Coranda Mică, have shown
exotic/large blocks of epi-metamorphic rocks or shelf limestone in Stramberg facies, locally re-
crystallized. The Neocene sediments which cover a large surface area consist of conglomerates,
grit-stone, marls and clay of Miocene and pre-Badenian age. These host the Neogene volcanic
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structure consisting of amphibole bearing andesite of Hondol type and quartz andesite with
amphiboles of Sacaramb type. The volcanic structure consists of sub-volcanic rocks and lava
flows. In the area of Coranda-Certej pit, the Cretaceous flish deposits, Neogene detritic
sediments and amphibole andesite of Holdol type are located in the apex of the structure or,
around a sub-volcanic andesitic body, respectively the Baiaga andesitic sub-volcano. The drill
holes and mining works completed have exposed the andesitic structure at depths of about 500
meters.
The intrusive and effusive magmatic activities as well as, the hydrothermal activity have been
manifested along some Paleogene – Neogene tectonic alignments, which are NW-SE and NE-
SW striking or, even older, such as the Mesozoic alignments which are E-W and N-S striking.
The overlap and juxtapose of few tectonic and magmatic events lead to development of
significant brecciation and lamination processes inside the intercalated Cretaceous and Neogene
sedimentary deposits. Locally, the entire structure displays tectonic features like a tectonic mix.
The Baiaga sub-volcano and subsequently, the Hondol and Dealul Grozii volcanic structures
have changed under low lithostatic pressure, the structural morphology of the Cretaceous and
Neogene sediments. The dynamo- metamorphic deformation is different on vertical scale.
The gold and silver mineralization at Certej has a simple composition, but the way the
metallic minerals occur is different. The main shape of occurrence is like fine impregnations
with pyrite, generally into the Cretaceous sediments or in breccias (monomictic or polimictic
breccias), or like large impregnations reach in lead and zinc minerals into Neogene sediments.
On this impregnating background few veins of sphalerite and galena are present. The size of the
minerals ranges against the rock granulometry. The lithology of the host rocks determined a
homogenous distribution of the metallic minerals.
Where breccia is found, the mineralization degree is extremely un-uniform due to the
geometry of the volcanic body as well as, to the possible leaching of the metallic compounds,
under the influence of meteoric waters. In the central part of the ore deposit, the base metal
bearing gold mineralization are hosted in general in sedimentary deposits displaying a variable
brecciation degree and overlapped by a vein mineralization containing of gold.
On vertical scale, zoning of mineralizations is less visible, while the percentage of
arsenopyrite increases with depths. Also, gold grade increases with depth.
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The primary metallic minerals are pyrite, sphalerite with low iron contents, galena ,
mineral components that can be macroscopically visible while red antimony has been found in
few areas. Microscopically, inclusions of pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite into pyrite and inclusions
of chalcopyrite in sphalerite have been found. The rest of the minerals identified under the
microscope are associated in general to the main mineral assemblages and consist of:
tetrahedrite, bournonite, tellurium and quite frequently, free gold.
In the Western part of the structure, gold mineralizations form vein systems where the
free gold under the form of flacks and dendrites are associated with the quartz.
5. Hydrogeology.
a) Certej open pit area
The gold mining activities at Certej have been performed for thousand of years.
Underground mining, controlled by the Romanian authorities, started at the beginning of 1970
with adits and drives, followed by open-cast mining.
The mining activities performed in the past years, have conducted to the formation of
underground voids consisting of galleries, shafts, raises and filling chambers. During
underground works, the hydrostatical level was reduced, while water has been evacuated by
pumps. Through these processes, the initial hydro chemical conditions have been perturbed by
increasing the aerated and permeable surface area, bringing forward the chemical reactions of
oxidation and dissolution as well as conducting the rain water infiltration in the mineralized
areas. Consequently, the mine waters are acid, with high levels of Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, Cu, Sr, As,
Co, Ni and Cr. Iron found in large quantity precipitates under colloidal or cryptocrystalline
forms.
In this area circulation of underground waters takes place along fault zones. The
underground water levels resulting from meteoric water infiltrations are ≈80m below the 410m
level (Hondol shaft). The water flow from Nicodim gallery, which collects all meteoric water, is
reduced, being less than 1 l/s. Water in this area is much mineralized and has a strong acid pH
(2. 2 – 3).
The underground aquifers in area of the open pit and of the waste dumps are reduced
and do not form potable water supply bodies. If the proposed project is not implemented, the
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underground aquifer will not suffer important qualitative changes until application of ecologic
measures.
b) Location of the tailings management facilities
In this area, in 2008, geological exploration drill-holes were performed in the
hydrographic basin of Avram creek (at 60m depth), Valea Măcrişului creek (at 60m depth) and
at the junction of these two streams (21m depth). The hydrostatic level of underground waters
has not been discovered up to the drill holes depth.
Underground aquifers where the tailings management facilities are found have small
dimensions and do not form potable water supply bodies.
6. Tectonic structure, seismologic activity
Taking into account the earthquakes’ intensities that have occurred during long periods
of time and the seismic engineering studies, calculation methods have been drawn-up so as to be
used for anti-seismic design of the buildings and seismic zoning maps. Zoning maps provide
delimitation of areas exposed to earthquakes at national or regional level based on historical,
geological and geophysical data. The level of the earthquakes connected to the geographical
representation determined according to seismic parameters: intensity, acceleration, speed and
movement.
The seismic zoning of Romania, on MSK (SR 11100-1:93) scale, presenting the possible
seismic intensities that when earthquakes occur, show that Certeju de Sus is located in seismic
area characterized by a reduced level of intensity, 6th
level, therefore indicating a minimum level
of seismic activity in Romania (see picture 2.3)
Picture 2.3 - Seismic zoning of Romania based on intensities on MSK scale according to
SR 11100-1:93 “Seismic zoning. Macro zoning of Romania”
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Special maps such as the one presented in P.100-1/2006 Code on seismic zoning of
Romania, are used for anti-seismic design of buildings and other constructions (see picture 2.4.)
Picture 2.4 - Zoning of the highest peak of the land acceleration for earthquakes
occurring at 100 years time
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According to this map, Certej is located in an area where the peak value of land
acceleration is 0.08, being the smallest value in Romania, therefore in Certej, the intensity of
earthquakes is hypothetically reduced. Although the seismic activity can be felt and people
would panic, the damages that occur within the structure of buildings are restrained.
7. Soil
7.1. Geomorphologic process of soil degradation
The special pedological study on Certej-Voia area, drawn-up by “the Bureau of
Pedological and Agrochemical Studies Hunedoara –Deva” in 2007, identified, limited and
shown on graphic form the degradation of the land surface.
The Geomorphologic processes in this area are the following:
a. Surface erosion. This is the process where particles of soil are scraped out and
transported by water coming from slopes under the form of sheet or slippery trickles. This is the
most developed process that affects the surface of the land. Reduced surface erosion can affect
approx. 97 hectares of land; strong erosion can affect approx. 48 hectares, while the most
affected surfaces have been identified on a 5 hectares surface. Excessive erosion can destroy
just 2. 34 hectares of land.
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b. Depth erosion is generated by water leakages on slopes under the form of slippery
trickles leading to the formation of small channels called ditches or gutters with depths of 30-40
cm. By ditch sinking, gullies with depths of 0.5-2 m and cloughs are formed ( when depths
exceed 2m). Such erosions usually destroy the lands, which is turned out from the economic
circuit. In the studied area depth erosion affects almost 13 hectares of land. Such type of erosion
is determined by the flank and by human activities (irrational exploitation and inadequate
circulation).
c. Landslides are ground movements as a result of gravity action that occur on slipping
surfaces which separate them from the fixed part of the land. These landslides have been
identified as geomorphologic processes that action alone in association with the surface erosions.
According to the way the landslides occur, this area is characterized by old stabilized and semi
active landslides. The old traces of landslide have been discovered on a 3.56 surface, while the
slipping processes associated with surface erosion affect approximately 79 hectares.
d. Humidity excess coming from rainfalls and leakages destroys 82 hectares of land. The
humidity excess is different being characterized by stagnogleying in some areas or strong
gleying in other areas. The most affected lands, approx. 32 hectares result from deep
stagnogleying while only 7 hectares result from intense gleying.
8. Climate
Certej mining area is characterized by a temperate continental climate while high-altitude
areas are characterized by a mountain microclimate with cold winters heavy snowfalls from 4 to
6 months. Spring and autumn are cold and wet, with heavy rains, while summer is short with
gradual pass of seasons. Multi-annual air temperature is 9.7 oC. The maximum temperatures
were registered in June and August (27.4oC and 27. 6oC), while the minimum temperatures were
registered in December and January (2.9 oC and 2.3
oC).
The coldest days have been registered in December-February (between -4.1 oC and -2.9
oC), while the warmest days were in July and August (13.7
oC and 13.6
oC). The annual average
temperatures had positive values (between 4.0 and 6.3oC). The absolute maximum temperature
could be of 15 oC (January) and 39.0 oC (July). The absolute minimum temperature could be –
25.0 oC (January) and 6.2 oC (August). The wind frequencies registered at the Meteorological
Station Deva show that the main wind directions are: West (9.0 % frequency), North-West (8.7
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% frequency) and South (6.9 % frequency), and the annual average of the atmospheric calm is
60.5%. The medium speed of the wind on different direction is between 2.2 and 3.7 m/s. The
greatest values of wind speed have been registered on West and North-West directions.
The lowest annual quantities of precipitations took place at Deva and Băiţa (25.7 mm
and 32.8 mm) in February and in March at Certeju de Sus (27.8 mm). The highest annual
quantities of precipitations were registered in June in all 3 stations. The annual quantities of
rainfalls during the last 15 years ranged between 417.5 mm and 644.2 mm at Deva, between
263.6 mm and 830.7 mm at Certeju de Sus and between 565.4 mm and 804.8 mm at Băiţa. The
snow layer differs too therefore from November to January/ February the snow layer has the
highest values, for example (3.2 cm at Deva, 3.4 cm at Certeju de Sus, 5.7 cm at Băiţa). The
heaviest snowfalls occurred at Certeju de Sus was in January-February when the monthly
average thickness of snow can vary from a year to another from 1 to 20 cm.
9. Protected areas
Within the area proposed for the mining project development, there is no “Natura 2000”
protected site, which could be impacted.
10. History of the location
Gold mining in Certej area has been done from centuries. In the medieval period, there
are few indications showing the extraction activities in this area, but large exploitation began
only in the XVIIth century. Mining started in the East, at Săcărâmb in 1745. Most of exploration
and exploitation operations began in 1832, leading to the development of the mining areas all
over Certej area.
11. The existent pollution
Mines and surfaces related to Certej perimeter (which will be closed down according to
the PIA-Mine Closure Plan - Certej documentation) and taken by SC DEVA GOLD SA are
mentioned in the following table.
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Table 2.5 Land and areas impacted by previous activities
No. Area / Mine Surface (hectares)
1 Coranda pit 26.06
2 North waste dump 11.38
3 South waste dump 13.61
4 Coranda gallery II -
5 Coranda gallery III -
6 Coranda II waste dump 0.40
7 Coranda III waste dump 0.30
8 Dealu Grozii gallery -
9 Dealu Grozii waste dump 0.15
TOTAL AFFECTED SURFACE 51.90
11.1. Water quality
Within the proposed industrial area used for the project implementation, water quality is
compromised by two major categories of physical and chemical stress factors:
• Evacuation of waste water generated by mines exploitation, with a high degree of
acidity and polluting materials such as (heavy metals, sulphur, dissolved salts etc.)
• Type of mineralization in the area
The exploitation of non-ferrous minerals in the area generates acid waste waters, with a
high degree of contaminations and heavy metals, found in the environment as acid mine
drainage. Within the existent open pit, where gold and silver is extracted, acid waters have been
generated by the exposure of ores containing sulphur to external factors. These waters are either
underground collected through the network of galleries, discharged through different portals as
acid waters, or they are uncontrolled evacuated in the surface waters, as leakages coming from
waste dumps. The specific mineralization in this area has led to the formation of chemical
elements whose concentrations could exceed the limits regulated by laws in force related to
surface and underground water quality also known as “background concentrations”.
Other water pollution sources are the domestic spent waters discharged from houses that
are placed near the watercourses as well as from agricultural activities or livestock.
The mining activities performed in the past years, have led to the formation of
underground galleries, shafts, raises and back-fill chambers. During underground works, the
hydrostatical level was reduced, while water has been evacuated by pumps. Through these
processes, the initial hydro chemical conditions have been perturbed by increasing the aerated
and permeable area, bringing forward the chemical reactions of oxidation and dissolution as well
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as conducting the rain water infiltration in the mineralized areas. Consequently, the mine waters
are acid, with high levels of Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, Cu, Sr, As, Co, Ni and Cr, flowing in the small
streams within the area. The perimeter taken into account for the new investment is located on
the valleys of the following streams:
- Valea Măcrişului creek
- Corănzii creek
- Băiegii creek
All these small streams are tributary of Hondol creek. Valea Certejului valley is the main
water collector in this area, being at the same time the tributary of Mures River. Valea Certejului
has the following tributary streams: Făerag and Mireşului streams on the right side, while
Hondol, Ciongani and Valea Nojagului streams on the left side. According to the National
Environmental Protection Action Plan - Hunedoara County, the control of the surface water
quality during 2002-2005 shows that the entire flow of Certej stream (18km) was spoiled.
11.2 Air quality
Air quality is influenced by sources coming from both the industrial and non-industrial areas.
Air pollution sources, which can be found within the industrial area, are the following:
• Particles of waste rocks coming from the waste dumps due to transportation by winds.
• Specific sources of emissions resulting from solid fuel burning (woods, agricultural
wastes) used for domestic activities or food preparation.
• Agricultural activities performed in the area such as: poultry or live stock in
individual households or, farming.
• Car traffic within the area.
The main toxic elements released in the air are nitrogen oxide, carbon oxide, sulphur
oxide, particles, heavy metals, etc.
Because of the reduced magnitudes of the pollution sources in the area, the levels of
pollutant concentrations are low as they are found only in rural areas characterized by
undeveloped anthropic activities, far away from industrial areas with intense traffic. High levels
of pollution particulates appear during strong winds that lead to the transportation of such
elements into the air, coming from the open pit or, waste dumps. Moreover, within inhabited
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areas near the mines, high concentrations of CO, NOx, hydrocarbons, will be spread into the air
during cold seasons due to wood burning used for heating.
11.3 Flora and fauna
The mining activities in the area have a negative impact on flora and fauna as most of
the ecosystems have been influenced by anthrophic activities and consequently the conservation
of the environment has been considerably reduced. The main factors leading to the destruction
of the ecosystems in this area are:
• The mining activities – this situation is specific to the area impacted by the historical
mining works.
• Pollution of the surface waters with mine acid waters, especially of Certej stream,
which ecosystem is completely destroyed.
The variations of habitats and ecosystem were either reduced or amplified by several forms of
land use. Because these interactions have occurred during long periods of time, taking different
forms, it is very difficult now to make distinction between the positive and the negative impacts
on the ecosystems.
B. Identification of installations and activities in the area that could possible lead to
major accidents
For the identification of areas within the location which could form relevant sections for
safety, there has been used the maximum quantity of dangerous substance present within the site
as main criterion, which means the determination of threshold limit for each category of
dangerous substance. The guide for drafting and verification of the safety reports, published in
„Twinning Project RO/2002/IB/EN/02 Implementation of the VOC’s, LCP and Seveso II
Directives” recommends the use of 5% from the relevant quantity described in column 2
(inferior level) from Appendix 1 at Seveso Directive (column 2 of Appendix 1 from GD
804/2007) which regulates measures so as to prevent major accidents caused by dangerous
substances as well as limitation of their consequences on environment and people’s health.
The areas where such dangerous substances can be found have been analyzed and
presented in Chapter III of this report (Description of dangerous substances).
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According to the provisions of GD 804/2007, paragraph 3, letter f, the word
“installation” means a technical unit within a location, where dangerous substances are
manufactured, used and handled or/and stored. The installation comprises all structures, all
equipments, the pipe network, tools, internal railways, docks, ships, storehouses, used for the
installation operations.” Within the location, the existent installations comprise the equipments
used for the extractions and treatment of gold and silver ores.
According to Article 4, this decision does not apply for:
d) Transportation of dangerous substances through pipes and pumping stations located in
the external area that shall fall under the provisions of the present decision.
e) Exploration, mining and ore processing in the open pits, or drill holes, excepting the
chemical and thermal processing operations and storage relating to utilization of dangerous
substances, as mentioned in Appendix 1.
g) Waste deposits, except the functional installations used for waste evacuation,
including tailings management facilities or tailings dams, containing dangerous substances as it
is stipulated in Appendix 1, when used for chemical and thermal treatment of minerals.
According to the data from the technical flow-sheets handed in by the beneficiary, some
relevant areas have been identified, where the risk of accidents occurrence is high:
1. The open pit
2. The processing plant
3. Floatation tailings management facility
4. CIL tailings management facility
5. Storehouse for explosive materials
Besides all these, there are other areas where pipes for transportation are located:
- Pipes used for hydro-transportation of flotation tailings slurry
- Pipes used for hydro-transportation of CIL-Albion tailings slurry
The safety sections are identified and described in Appendix 2.3 Lay-out: Safety sections
C. Description of the areas where major accident can occur
According to the above-mentioned information, there are many areas where important
accidents could take place, identified as safety areas. These areas are:
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1. The open pit
Ore mining within Certej area will be done on the location of the former Coranda open pit (26
hectares surface) developed towards West and East with a total surface of 62.8 hectares.
According to the geological studies, a total quantity of 28.2 million tones of gold and silver ore
reserves can be extracted from this area. The exploitation method to be used at Certej is “The
mining method with descending benches and waste rocks haulage to an external waste dump”
The preparation of the ore which will be extracted is done by open and preparation
trenching. The open pit design comprises two main access platforms with 1:10 slope, one
platform located in the central area and the other platform serving the Western, Eastern and
Intermediary areas. Each of the two platforms will have 24m width to be used for the safety run
of the trucks on two directions. In deeper areas, the platforms will have 12 m width. The total
ore production capacity of Certej open pit will be of 3,000.000 tones / year.
2. The processing plant
The processing plant will be located near the open pit as the whole quantity of ore mined
from the open pit will be delivered to the processing plant in order to be processed. Appendix 2.4
shows the layout of the processing plant. The processing activity is divided into the following
stages:
Crushing and stockpiling: The ore is crushed by a gyratory crusher and then stored in
crushed ore dumps / stockpiles.
Wet grinding: The ore that is stored is ground in wet condition and then transported to
the floatation plant.
Ore flotation: in order to achieve the gold pyrite concentrate, which is to be turn to
profit in the first two years of operation under this form, and then in the following years the gold
pyrite concentrate will be oxidized and CIL leached in order to be used for precious metal
extraction under the form of Doré alloy.
The gold pyrite concentrate is leached with cyanide followed by the absorption of
precious metals from the cyanide leaching solution on active carbon.
Oxidation process as well as the gold and silver recovery is made in 3 main stages.
• Ultra-fine grinding less than 10 microns in IsaMill installation.
• Pyrite oxidation in stirring tanks through oxygen injection/ sparging.
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• Gold and silver recovery from cyaniding pregnant solution and absorption on
activated carbon absorption in CIL tanks.
Electro-winning: Gold and silver are extracted through a classic process of electro-
winning, where gold will be retained on the stainless steel cathode. These loaded cathodes will
be manually stripped in the electro-winning cells, using high pressure water. The gold mud
resulted in the electro-winning cells will be filtered and then transported to:
Melting: The gold mud will be mixed with the melting reagents (litharge, borax and
nitrate) for gold extraction into an induction furnace. The gold smelt will be cast under the form
of bullions.
Cyanide neutralization: Gold and silver extraction is made by using cyanides and
reagents solutions. Due to high quantities of cyanides, this water solution is dangerous for the
environment. Therefore, after the gold and silver extractions, the cyanide water is recycled while
the thick slurry will be neutralized before being pumped into the tailings management facilities.
Storage of processing tailings: The flotation tailings resulted from ore processing within
the processing plant is pumped and stored into the flotation tailings management facility at Valea
Măcrişului, and the cyanide tailings originating from the cyanide leaching process will be stored
in the CIL tailings management facility, which is located at Valea Măcrişului too, upstream the
flotation tailings management facility. These tailings management facilities are located at 1.5 km
away from the processing plant.
Within the location of the processing plant site there can be found:
- Oxygen plant will generate cryogenic oxygen and will be used for the oxidation of pyrite
concentrate in the Albion process. Its dimensions are 40 m x 85 m. The oxygen production
capacity is 525 tones/ day. The cryogenic oxygen will be stored in two cryogenic tanks.
The cryogenic tanks – are two identical vertical tanks, having a 5m width and a total storage
capacity of 60 m3
each. The tanks keep a constant temperature due to the lack of air between the
double walls of the tanks. The maximum pressure inside is 37 bars and each tanks has two safety
valves at 37 bar, a level indicator, pressure gauge, remote control system of pressure and a
bursting disk.
- The GPL storehouse comprises a storage tank having a total capacity of 5000 l. Usually
2 such tanks per week or 20t/month of GPL are used. The store
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- The GPL storage tank has a total capacity of 10 t. It is placed within a concrete shell,
on support pillars. This storage tank is a horizontal cylinder, made of steel, falling under
the operation terms and conditions of State Inspection for the Control of Boilers, Pressure
Vessels and Hoisting Equipment (ISCIR). The tank operates at the ambient temperature and
at the vapour pressure of the GPL and it comprises 2 safety valves, graduated level
indicator and glass indicator, graduated thermometers, block valve for system input and
output and hydraulic blocking system manually operated. The safety valves have 8 bars
and are connected to a stack used for gas dispersion near the tanks.
3. Flotation Tailings Management Facility
The main embankment of the Flotation TMF is located along Măcriş stream, upstream to
the junction with its right affluent which is Pârâul lui Avram stream. The main embankment has
been dimensioned in order to support all the flotation tailings quantity in amount of 25 million
tones, streaming from the processing plant, on the whole period of mining.
The main embankment will be built in several stages, as follows:
• The starter dam, having the crest elevation at 625.00 mdMN (during the
construction stage);
• Subsequent rises (during the operating stage);
The main embankment is a rock fill construction and has the following geometric
characteristics:
- Maximum height = 169 m
- Length of dam crest = 480m
- Width of dam crest = 8.00m
- Width of berms: 6.00m upstream and 8.00m downstream
- Dam face slopes:- upstream and downstream 1: m = 1:1.4 (general slope
taking into account the designed berms are 1:1.9)
- Foundation: h med = 3.00m in the river bed and 1.00m on slopes
The starter dam of the flotation TMF is located on Măcriş stream, with axis at almost
550m upstream its junction with Pârâul lui Avram creek; the starter dam is a rock fill
construction made of successive layers of fresh andesite (up to 0.50 – 0.75) m, which are made
compact using a vibratory compactor, until it reaches the parameters resulted from the
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experimental trail.
The upstream face is protected by 2 filtering layers:
- A coarse filter of 1.50 m thickness made of crushed rock
- A fine filter of 1.50 m thickness made of gravel and sand
The fine filter is covered with a geo-textile liner and a PEHD geo-membrane used for
dam imperviousness.
In order to fix the foundation of the starter, it is necessary to clean the place, by removing
the trees and vegetal material as well as, the altered rock or which is not well fixed.
On slopes, twinning levels of 1.50 – 2.0 m width and 2.0 – 3.0 m height will be built.
4. CIL tailings management facility
The main embankment of the Albion-CIL tailings management facility will be built on
Măcriş stream, at 1.8 km upstream to its junction with its right tributary, which is Pârâul lui
Avram creek. The CIL TMF has been dimensioned in order to store all the cyanide tailings
quantities of 4.5 million tones.
The main dam will be built in several stages:
• The starter dam;
• Successive dam rises, which will be built during operating stages;
The main dam / embankment has the following geometric characteristics:
- Maximum height = 70 m
- Length of dam crest = 480m
- Width of dam crest = 8.00m
- Width of berms: 6.00m upstream and 8.00m downstream
- Dam face slopes - upstream and downstream 1: m = 1:1.4 (the overall slope
angle taking into account the designed berms is 1:1,9)
- foundation: h med = 3.00m in the river bed and 1.00m on hill slopes
The starter dam of the CIL TMF will be located at the junction of the two streams that form
Măcriş stream, at 741.00mdM elevation (Appendix 1.19).
The starter dam is a rock fill construction made of successive layers of fresh andesite
(0.50 – 0.75) m, which are made compact using a vibratory compactor, until it reaches the
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parameters resulted from the experimental trail.
The upstream dam face is protected by 2 filtering layers:
- a coarser filter of 1.50 m thickness made of crushed rock
- a fine filter of 1.5 m thickness made of sand and gravel
The fine filter is covered with a geo-textile liner and a PEHD geo-membrane used for
dam imperviousness.
On slopes, twinning levels of 1.50 – 2.0 m width and 2.0 – 3.0 m height will be built.
5. Storehouse for explosive materials
For the storage of explosive materials, the old storehouse (rehabilitated) will be used.
The storehouse for such explosive materials in Bocşa Mică village is an independent
underground storehouse, designed and certified in 1982 to store 24.9 tones ET (equivalent of
TNT). In 2003 it was certified again by the Romanian Ministry of Interior – General Inspectorate
of Police Hunedoara with the Certification No. 25164/21.02.2003 for a total storage capacity of
40.000 kg ET. The storehouse in Certej was designed to store a quantity of 30.000 kg of AM1.
The ammonium nitrate used for AM1 explosive, if purchased in box-pallets of 1000 kg (20 bags
x 50 kg or 40 bags x 25 kg) can stored in each room almost 30 such box-pallets. The storehouse
in Certej has 3 rooms used for storage of approx. 90.000 kg of ammonium nitrate.
Access to the storehouse is done by an access road suitable for circulation. The explosive
materials are transported to the supplier by special and certified means of transportation,
complying with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Road. The storehouse for explosive materials is built as a complex storehouse, as one
of part of the building is set up only for storage while the other part is for consumption. The
storehouse provides consumption of explosive materials during a long period of time without
creating inactive inventory leading to the products loss of availability.
Access inside the storehouse is made by a tunnel located at +630m elevation, having
180m length. Inside the tunnel there are damping manholes of 2m -3 m length, covering a total
length of 37 m of tunnel. Inside the storehouse there are rooms for explosive materials handling
and rooms for storage of such materials. The tunnel’s slope is 7%0. For rooms longer than 10m
where ammonium nitrate is stored there will be built a second tunnel acting like a ventilation
channel. The damping manholes are water insulated. Areas where access is prohibited are
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marked with visible warning signs. For the security of the storehouse, a 316m long enclosure
was built, made of concrete pillars and barbed wire of 2m high. Access inside the storehouse is
made through a 3m iron -gate for trucks and cars and a 1 m iron- gate for the workers. The
platform together with the storehouse for explosive materials is surrounded by wire fences.
Access inside this area is restricted as there are warning signs (RESTRICTED AREA) at 3m
distance from the fence.
Appendix 2.5 show the lay-out of the storehouse for explosive materials
6. Pipe networks
The floatation tailings and the cyanidation tailings are transported to the tailings
management facilities by hydraulic pumps.
a) Flotation tailings slurry pipelines
The hydro-transportation of the tailings slurry from the processing plant to the TMFs, as
well as, the clarified water form both TMFs will be made by overhead steel pipes mounted on
pillars. Pumping stations are found inside the processing factory and on pipes route.
b) CIL tailings slurry pipelines
The hydro-transportation of the cyanidation tailings slurry from the processing plant to
the tailings management facilities as well as, of clarified water from both TMFs is made by
overhead steel pipelines mounted on pillars.
The pipes used for hydro-transportation of cyanide tailings from DETOX 1 plant to the
CIL tailings management facility is made of steel. Pumping stations are found inside the
processing plant and on pipeline routes.