Updates from the Field

Feb 1

At MOSMIN, our mission is to advance mine waste monitoring by integrating satellite data for large-scale, long-term insights with high-resolution UAV-based data and volumetric geophysical imaging to analyse processes at small and large scales and effectively link surface expressions to underlying mechanisms in the subsurface. A key part of this effort is fieldwork, which plays a crucial role in validating satellite-derived products, developing case studies, and demonstrating the benefits of multi-scale data integration. By deploying our methods in real-world settings, we refine both the technology and the practical know-how needed to deliver these solutions as a scalable service. Join us as we recap our latest field activities and research milestones in our journey toward more effective and sustainable mine waste monitoring.

Sampling Campaign

At Roșia Poieni (Romania), MOSMIN team members carried out a sampling campaign late last year targeting waste rock deposits and the open pit. Approximately 40 samples, representing different alteration facies, were collected and have since undergone spectroscopic analysis. This dataset serves as a crucial ground truth reference for validating hyperspectral satellite data, ultimately refining remote sensing-based compositional mapping.

Corner Reflectors

In our pilot sites in Zambia and Chile, efforts have been directed at improving InSAR-based displacement monitoring through the installation of corner reflectors on tailings dams. At FQM Trident Mine (Zambia), 20 reflectors were deployed in October 2024, while at Codelco's Talabre TSF (Chile), 14 were installed in December 2024. These reflectors provide stable, high-contrast measurement points, significantly enhancing radar-based deformation tracking.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing

To advance our integrated geotechnical monitoring of tailings storage facilities, the team implemented Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology by deploying fiber-optic cables at two of our pilot sites. At FQM Trident Mine, a 6-km cable was installed in shallow trenches along the dam's structure in October 2024, while at Talabre TSF, a 4-km cable was laid along the crest and foot of the dam in two field campaigns in December and January. This technology transforms fiber-optic cables into dense seismic sensor arrays, enabling the detection of internal erosion, seepage, and structural instabilities in tailings dams with unprecedented detail.

Seismic Stations

Complementing the DAS deployment, 30 standalone seismic stations were installed at both Trident and Talabre to provide large-scale 3D geophysical insights. These stations, positioned strategically across the dam areas, enhance the resolution and coverage of seismic monitoring efforts.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Lastly, at the Talabre TSF, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was conducted in January 2025 to further investigate subsurface moisture distribution and seepage pathways. Six profiles, each approximately 250 meters long, were measured along both the crest and the base of the western tailings dam. This data will serve as a critical addition to both satellite and DAS-based monitoring, improving the overall understanding of tailings dam stability.

Looking Ahead

These recent deployments represent a significant milestone for MOSMIN, demonstrating our ability to execute multi-scale geophysical and remote sensing campaigns in complex mining environments. Fieldwork is a crucial step in developing scalable, integrated services for mine waste monitoring, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Executing these campaigns required navigating import/export permits, instrument shipping logistics, and on-site material and staff coordination, all while ensuring technical requirements were met, such as protecting instruments from extreme temperatures, dust, rain, theft, and potential damage from construction activities. Field installation and maintenance demand careful planning, especially in active mining sites with ongoing traffic, construction, and shifting infrastructure.

Despite these challenges, the MOSMIN teams, partners, and site personnel worked together seamlessly, demonstrating excellent coordination, adaptability, and teamwork. These experiences have provided valuable insights into how fieldwork can be efficiently integrated into a scalable business model, helping us define the best approach for delivering a comprehensive, multi-scale mine waste monitoring service.

MOSMIN's fieldwork efforts are far from over. Upcoming campaigns in Romania and Sweden in the spring and summer will expand our monitoring efforts with UAV-based hyperspectral imaging, ambient noise tomography, and geochemical sampling.

Past Events

As part of our outreach and collaboration efforts, MOSMIN was also represented at several key events, including SEG, SAGA, INTERGEO and Berlin Science Week. These events provided valuable opportunities to present our research, engage with stakeholders, and foster new partnerships in the mining and geosciences community.