Selene Mine: Enabling Safe Closure of a High-Altitude Tailings Dam in Peru

Monitoring a tailings dam storage facility during closure is both a regulatory requirement and a safety-critical activity. For Minera Hochschild, this challenge was intensified by the extreme conditions at the Selene Mining Unit, located in the Southern Andes of Peru.

Situated at over 4,600 metres above sea level, the site is subject to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme rain and snowfall, frequent sub-zero temperatures, and rapid temperature fluctuations. Combined with restricted access and operational limitations, these factors made traditional monitoring methods, such as manual inspections and periodic topographic measurements, difficult, inconsistent and resource-intensive.

At the same time, regulatory authorities required continuous, reliable and traceable data to verify the stability of the dam. The client needed a slope monitoring solution for the tailings dam that could deliver consistent monitoring without relying on frequent site visits, while also reducing personnel exposure in a high-risk environment.

In addition, there was a need to centralise monitoring data within a digital platform, enabling teams to remotely visualise asset behaviour, analyse trends over time, and receive early warnings of potential instability.

The requirement extended beyond simply measuring displacement, evolving from periodic, manual monitoring to a fully automated, remote, and data-driven approach that supports safer operations, regulatory compliance, and more informed decision-making.

Senceive deployed a GeoWAN wireless monitoring system to provide continuous, automated insight into the behaviour of the slopes of the tailings dam storage facility.

A total of 12 wireless Triaxial Tilt sensors on metal stakes were installed across critical areas of the dam slope and upper structure, enabling precise monitoring of ground movement throughout the closure phase. The system was designed to operate autonomously, capturing and transmitting data without the need for manual intervention.

The GeoWAN communication platform was selected for its long-range wireless capability, robust performance in extreme environments like all Senceive sensors and ability to deliver reliable data in remote locations. Unlike traditional prism-based monitoring, the system does not rely on line-of-sight measurements or frequent site access, making it ideally suited to challenging mining conditions.

Installation was completed in a single day, minimising disruption to operations. Once deployed, the sensors immediately began transmitting data from the sensors through the GeoWAN network to the GeoWAN gateway, transforming the monitoring approach from periodic measurements to continuous, real-time data collection.

All data was visible within Senceive’s WebMonitor data access system, providing a single, accessible interface for analysis and alert management. This enabled remote teams to track asset behaviour, identify trends and respond quickly to any changes.

The implementation of the GeoWAN system has transformed monitoring at the site, delivering continuous, automated and fully accessible data on the condition of the tailings storage facility.

The data to date indicates stable conditions, with no significant movement detected. More importantly, the client now benefits from near real-time visibility of the asset - accessible even from corporate offices or any remote location. This has significantly improved oversight, enabling faster and more confident decision-making.

By eliminating reliance on manual inspections and periodic measurements, the solution has reduced the need for routine site visits, lowering operational risk and improving efficiency. Monitoring data is now consistent, traceable and always available, strengthening both compliance and reporting.

The shift from manual to automated monitoring has also enhanced preventive risk management. Early warning capabilities and continuous trend analysis allow potential issues to be identified and addressed before they escalate.

The success of the project has built confidence in wireless monitoring technology and created a scalable model for deployment across other mining operations.