A new technology has brought advances in the control of tailings and overburden disposal in the Alegria Sul Pile, at the Germano unit, in Mariana (MG). Geolabor Technological Control is the new digital tool used by Samarco that guarantees more precision and safety in the flow of geotechnical data from the pile.  The solution was developed by startup Geolabor for the Geotechnical Control of Filtered Tailings Pile challenge, launched by Samarco at the Mining Hub in 2020. The project was implemented in 2021.    

The Alegria Sul Tailings and Waste Disposal Pile was started in December 2020.  Since September 2021, the data from its layers is stored in the tool, through which the specialized team monitors its development, 24 /7.     

The application offers an organized, georeferenced and categorized database to deliver test results with greater agility, in addition to generating graphical reports that allow the monitoring of each layer built.    

“Among the main benefits, we had the increase in the reliability of the test results, caused by the use of a calculation tool that guarantees consistency in the values obtained, in addition to validation by users according to the registered access rules. Time optimization in data generation and gain in analysis time. We also highlight the improvement in quality processes related to the lab, such as controlling the calibration of precision devices and meeting the technical specifications of the designs”, said Process Engineer Viviane Aparecida Rezende.  

From the data and reports generated and stored in the tool, consolidated geotechnical analyses are developed and presented internally and to auditors and designers. Investment in innovation is in line with the company's cultural trait, which aims at doing mining differently, safer and more sustainable.      

Mining Hub    

It is the first mining hub in the world and has more than 40 associated companies in the mining area. Each year, two innovation cycles - the M-Start - are held, when startups are accelerated to develop solutions for the challenges in the country's mining sector. Geolabor was the solution presented for the challenge of Geotechnical Control of Tailings Pile in mining.