Evaporation pond lining in mining describes the engineered containment of process fluids, brines, and pregnant solutions in open ponds using geosynthetic barrier systems. Unlined ponds risk seepage of aggressive chemicals into soils and groundwater. Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes and Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) provide proven, chemically resistant containment for evaporation ponds in copper, lithium, gold, and salt mining operations.
Application: Engineered containment ponds concentrating valuable minerals or isolating contaminants via solar evaporation in mining operations.
Products: Carbofol®, Bentofix®, Secutex®
Substrate / Fluid: Aggressive chemical solutions, brines, lithium-rich fluids, copper leachate, contaminated process water
Standards: GRI GM13, GRI GM21, ASTM D5885
Typical Projects: Lithium brine ponds, copper heap leach ponds, salt evaporation, contaminated water isolation, mine closure
Naue geosynthetic lining systems are installed wherever chemical process fluids, brines, or contaminated water must be reliably contained in open ponds.
Reliable containment of brines and process fluids in large open ponds.
Minimise seepage and protect soil and groundwater from contaminated process fluids.
Contain aggressive brines and chemical process fluids with resistant barrier systems.
Evaporation ponds operate under demanding conditions: aggressive chemical fluids, prolonged UV exposure, thermal cycling, and often remote installation environments. Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes are specifically engineered to resist these stresses over the full lifecycle of the pond.
Practical Advantages:
System note: For applications requiring both containment and separation, Bentofix® GCLs can be incorporated below the geomembrane as part of a composite lining system.
The choice of lining system depends on fluid chemistry, regulatory requirements, and acceptable risk. Not every evaporation pond requires the same level of containment redundancy.
Key principle: A single geomembrane provides primary containment. A composite system (geomembrane + GCL) provides dual-layer redundancy and is preferred for aggressive fluids or where secondary containment is required by permit.
Select the lining product using the decision table below. Five criteria guide the choice. Consult Naue technical support for project-specific confirmation.
| Criterion | Carbofol® HDPE-Geomembrane | Bentofix® GCL | Composite: Carbofol® + Bentofix® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid aggressiveness | High: strong acids, solvents, metal leachates - excellent chemical resistance | Moderate: verify bentonite compatibility with process fluid before specification | High: dual barrier; preferred for most aggressive or unknown fluid chemistries |
| UV / Exposed design | Excellent UV resistance; suitable for long-term exposed pond design | Not recommended for prolonged exposed design without a cover layer | Geomembrane on top; GCL protected beneath - suitable for exposed applications |
| Slope stability | Textured surface variants enhance friction on berm slopes | Thermal Lock [ML1.1]construction provides shear resistance within the GCL | Assess interface friction angle for full system |
| Regulatory redundancy | Single liner where permitted by permit conditions | Single liner where fluid is confirmed compatible with bentonite | Dual barrier; preferred where secondary containment is required by regulators |
| Installation speed | 7.5 m-wide rolls: fewer seams, faster coverage on large pond areas | Integrated bentonite overlap; no additional bentonite required on site |
Environmental compliance and reduced long-term liability
A proven geosynthetic lining system prevents groundwater and soil contamination. This reduces regulatory risk and removes the threat of costly remediation liability for the operating company.
Long service life with reduced maintenance intervals
Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes are engineered for decades of service. Longer intervals between liner replacements reduce total lifecycle cost compared to clay-only alternatives.
Faster installation through wide-roll format
Carbofol® is available in rolls up to 7.5 m wide. Fewer field seams accelerate installation, reduce welding labour hours, and lower the risk of seam defects on large pond surfaces.
Technically proven across diverse mining chemistries
Naue geosynthetics are deployed on copper, lithium, gold and salt mining projects globally. The product range covers the full spectrum of chemical conditions encountered in evaporation pond applications.
Complete system from a single supplier
Carbofol®, Bentofix®, and Secutex® form a compatible, integrated system. Single-source supply simplifies specification, procurement and quality assurance documentation on site.
An evaporation pond is an engineered open-air basin used in mining to concentrate valuable minerals from brines or isolate contaminated process water via solar evaporation. Without an impermeable liner, aggressive chemical solutions seep into surrounding soils and groundwater. Carbofol® geomembranes and Bentofix® GCLs provide the reliable containment barrier required to meet environmental protection standards.
If the process fluid is of known chemistry and regulations permit a single liner, Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane is the standard choice. Where secondary containment is required or fluid aggressiveness is high, a composite system combining Carbofol® with Bentofix® GCL provides dual-layer redundancy. Contact Naue’s Engineering and Design Department (EDD) for a project-specific recommendation.
Key standards include GRI GM13 (HDPE geomembrane specification), GRI GM21 (LLDPE specification), and ASTM D5885 (oxidative induction time / long-term durability). Project-specific national mining regulations must also be confirmed with the permit authority.
Geosynthetic lining systems require less earthwork volume, reduce the transport of clay material and allow faster construction. Wide-format Carbofol® rolls (up to 7.5 m) further reduce installation time on large pond areas. Longer service life and lower maintenance requirements contribute to total lifecycle cost advantages.
Carbofol® geomembrane panels are delivered in rolls, cut to size and welded in the field using thermal fusion or extrusion welding. Seam quality is verified by destructive and non-destructive testing. Secutex® protection geotextile is placed above or below the geomembrane where required. Naue technical support provides installation guidelines and can assist with site QA planning.
Geosynthetic liners prevent soil and groundwater contamination throughout pond operation and after mine closure. Their long service life reduces replacement frequency and associated material consumption. Compared to compacted clay, geomembranes require significantly less earthwork, reducing heavy equipment hours, fuel use, and site disturbance.
Yes. Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes comply with GRI GM13 and are tested against key performance criteria, including chemical resistance, stress crack resistance and UV durability. Bentofix® GCLs conform to relevant GCL standards. Comprehensive technical data sheets and third-party test reports are available from Naue
Bentofix® GCL performance depends on the specific ionic composition and concentration of the process fluid. For standard brine chemistries, standard Bentofix® grades are suitable; for high-concentration or chemically aggressive fluids (e.g., multivalent cation brines in lithium ponds), Bentofix® X coated variants or a Carbofol®-only system are recommended. Naue technical engineers review project-specific fluid chemistry data to confirm product compatibility before specification.
All Carbofol® field seams are produced by certified welders using dual-track hot-wedge welding equipment. Every seam is immediately tested by pressurising the air channel between the two weld tracks. Any seam failing the pressure test is repaired and retested before proceeding. Additional destructive peel and shear tests are taken at defined intervals from trial seams. The complete seam log forms part of the construction quality assurance (CQA) documentation submitted at project completion.
Geosynthetic lining systems for mining evaporation ponds are specified on the basis of recognised international standards, fluid chemistry data, and site-specific conditions. Naue technical engineers support design teams through the specification process - from product selection to QA documentation.
Naue Carbofol® is a HDPE liner for landfill sealing, mining containment, and groundwater protection.
Naue Bentofix® is a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) for waterproofing in landfill engineering, groundwater protection and hydraulic applications.
Naue Secutex® is a mechanically bonded nonwoven geotextile for separation, filtration and protection in roads, railways and hydraulic engineering projects.
