Barrick Cortez, Inc. 

Crescent Valley, Nevada 

Hydrogen Cyanide 

Emissions Quantification 

Site Specific Protocol 

Version 01 

November 2009 

Prepared 

By 

Thomas R. Card 

Environmental Management Consulting

41125 278th Way SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022 

360.902.5540; trcard@earthlink.net 

 Dr. C. E. Schmidt 

Environmental Consultant 

19200 Live Oak Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080 

530.529.4256; Fax- 4878 schmidtce@aol.com 

 
Table of Contents 

1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 1

2 SAMPLING PROGRAM SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 1

3 SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 4

3.1 PROCESS DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................................... 4

3.2 PROCESS SAMPLE COLLECTION LOCATIONS ..................................................................................... 4

3.2.1 Heap Leach ............................................................................................................................. 7

3.2.1.1 Leach Pads ........................................................................................................................................ 7

3.2.1.2 Leach Solution Ponds ........................................................................................................................ 7

3.2.2 Mill and Tailings Impoundment .............................................................................................. 9

3.2.2.1 Mill CIL Circuit ................................................................................................................................ 9

3.2.2.2 Tailings Impoundment ...................................................................................................................... 9

4 PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................................................................... 12

4.1 SCHEDULE ...................................................................................................................................... 12

4.2 EQUIPMENT LIST ............................................................................................................................. 12

4.3 SITE SAFETY AND ACCESS .............................................................................................................. 13

4.4 SITE PROVIDED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES .................................................................................... 14

4.4.1 Onsite Transportation ........................................................................................................... 14

4.4.2 Laboratory Services .............................................................................................................. 14

4.4.3 Office Support ....................................................................................................................... 14

4.4.4 Process Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 14

4.5 SHIPPING ......................................................................................................................................... 15

5 SAMPLING PROTOCOLS ............................................................................................................. 15

5.1 GAS SAMPLING ............................................................................................................................... 15

5.2 LIQUID SAMPLING ........................................................................................................................... 15

6 ANALYTICAL PROTOCOLS ........................................................................................................ 15

6.1 NIOSH 7904 FOR HYDROGEN CYANIDE ......................................................................................... 15
1 

1 Introduction 

This Site Specific Protocol (SSP) describes the sampling program details for using the surface 

emission isolation flux chamber to test for hydrogen cyanide air emissions from the cyanide 

leach processes at Barrick Cortez, Inc. (Cortez). The overall assessment approach and 

sampling/analytical protocols, complete with QA/QC content, has been provided to EPA in the 

Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) on November 18, 2009. This SSP provides the specific 

method and sampling information unique to Cortez. 

The SSP is intended to provide a sampling plan, which will produce area source flux data 

representative of the various cyanide leach processes at Cortez. The data collected will represent 

hydrogen cyanide flux associated with the following processes: 

 Heap leach circuit, 

 Mill leach circuit, and 

 Tailings impoundment. 

The technical effort includes: 

 Preparation of field sampling equipment, 

 Field sampling, 

 Chain-of-custody tracking, 

 Sample shipping and analyses, 

 Calculation of annual emissions, and 

 Preparation of a final report. 

2 Sampling Program Summary 

Table 2.1 presents a summary of the sampling scope. Between 52 and 76 samples are planned to 

be taken at this site. 
2 

Table 2.1 Summary of Sample Locations

SOURCE SCOPE COMMENT 

Heap Leach and Leach Solution

Active Heap Leach- Area 30, 

Panel 7 

Area #1- 4 samples, Area 

#2- 4 samples; 8 total 

Represents the typical active leach 

pad surface, same as Expansion 

Area 

Active Heap Leach- North 

Slope of Area 30 

4 samples total Typical of mine site active heap 

leach on slope 

Active Heap Leach- Area 28 8 samples total Typical of Area 28 

Inactive Heap Leach Prepared 

for Leach- Area 30 

Pre-leach 4 samples 

maximum, 2 samples 

minimum 

Pad areas prepared for leaching - 

These areas have had a layer of 

new ore placed upon previously 

leached ore, but leaching of the 

new ore has not yet commenced. 

Inactive Heap Leach Newly out of leach (less 

than 30 days) 4 samples 

maximum, 2 samples 

minimum 

Inactive leach pad areas at either 

Area 28 or 30 that have been 

leached within the last 30 days 

Inactive Heap LeachExpansion Area, Lift 2, Panel 

2 

Out of leach (1-6 months 

after leach); 4 samples 

maximum, 2 samples 

minimum 

Older lift on new expansion, out of 

leach for 1-6 months, ripped and 

ready for ore 

Inactive Heap Leach Long term out of leach 

(More than 1 year ) 4 

samples maximum, 2 

samples minimum 

Inactive leach pad areas at either 

Area 28 or 30 that have not been 

leached for more than 1 year 

Pregnant Pond 2 samples total One of two identical pondssampling in wash tub with fresh 

pond solution or suspending 

chamber from cat-walk to pump in 

pond 

Barren Pond 2 samples total One of two identical pondssampling in wash tub with fresh 

pond solution or suspending 

chamber from cat-walk to pump in 

pond 

Mill 

Mill Process Tanks- Thickener 

Tank, First and Last CarbonIn-Leach (CIL) Tanks, and 

Final Clarifier 

2 samples from thickener 

tank, 2 samples from CIL 

Tank #1, 2 samples from 

CIL Tank #8, 2 samples 

from final clarifier; 8 total 

Two samples from each unique 

type of tank 

 
3 

Table 2.1 Summary of Sample Locations (continued)

SOURCE SCOPE COMMENT 

Tailings Impoundment 

Tailings Impoundment Area 

#1- Dry Sediments, Wet 

Sediments 

2 samples dry sediments, 

2 samples wet sediments; 

4 total 

Wet and dry sediments or ‘beach’ 

accessed from earthen ramp 

Tailings Impoundment Area 

#2- Dry Sediments, Wet 

Sediments 

2 samples dry sediments, 

2 samples wet sediments; 

4 total 

Wet and dry sediments or ‘beach’ 

accessed from earthen ramp 

Tailings Impoundment 

Supernatant Pond 

4 samples from southeast 

side 

Accessible from shore 

Snow/Ice Cover 

Active/Inactive Pads and/or 

Tailings Impoundment 

Up to 8 samples Weather permitting, this data will 

be used to determine the effect of 

snow/ice cover. 

QA/QC

Replicate Samples 4 replicate samples Minimum of 5% per batch, one per 

day 

Media Blank Samples 4 media blank samples Minimum of 5% per batch, one per 

day 

TOTAL 76 Samples (Maximum) 

52 Samples (Minimum) 
4 

3 Sampling Strategy 

The purpose of this program is to maximize the value of the field samples as much as possible 

and, by utilizing fate modeling, to interpolate the field data between sample points. This data 

will be collected with a combination of direct source sampling (flux chamber) and analysis of 

liquid leach solutions. Direct source sampling will be conducted on a sufficient number of the 

different area sources such that the data will be representative of all hydrogen cyanide area 

sources at the mine. Emissions from sources not sampled will be calculated based on data from 

the most similar sampled source(s) in terms of configuration and solution chemistry. 

3.1 Process Description 

Cortez operates both heap leaching for run-of-mine (ROM) ore and mill leaching for higher 

grade ore. Heap leaching operations consist of an Area 28 pad and an Area 30 pad. Each area 

includes pregnant and barren solution ponds, pregnant solution collection ditches, and CarbonIn-Column (CIC) circuits for gold adsorption. Solution from the barren ponds is pumped to the 

active portions of the leach pads. Prior to application, cyanide is added to the solution to achieve 

the target cyanide concentration. The leach solution is applied to the top of the pads (along with 

lime for pH control), collected on a liner underneath the pads, and transferred to the pregnant 

ponds. The pregnant solution is then sent through CIC tanks where the gold dissolved in the 

pregnant solution is adsorbed onto carbon. The carbon is then sent to the carbon strip circuit 

located at the mill. The Area 28 CIC tanks are located near the Area 28 solution ponds and the 

Area 30 CIC tanks are within a building near the Area 30 solution ponds. 

Mill leaching/adsorption operations include a grinding surge tank, a small mixer tank, a slurry 

thickener tank, CIL tanks, Mill CIC tanks, clarifier tanks, a cyanide destruct tank, and a reclaim 

water tank. Ore slurry from the grinding mill is first sent to the grinding surge tank, then to the 

mixer tank where caustic and cyanide are added to adjust the pH and cyanide concentration. The 

slurry solution is then transferred to the thickener tank. The thickener tank underflow goes to the 

CIL tanks and the overflow goes to the Mill CIC tanks. In the CIL and Mill CIC tanks, gold is 

adsorbed from solution onto carbon. The carbon from the CIL and Mill CIC tanks is then sent to 

the carbon strip circuit. Slurry outflow from the CIL tanks is transferred to clarifier tanks. 

Overflow from the clarifiers is transferred to the Mill CIC tanks for additional gold recovery. 

The underflow (along with the Mill CIC tank solution outflow) is transferred to the cyanide 

destruct circuit before being discharged to the tailings impoundment. Some water from the 

tailings impoundment is recycled and sent to the reclaim water tank for use (along with fresh 

water) in the grinding mill. 

3.2 Process Sample Collection Locations 

A summary of sample collection locations are provided in Table 2.1. Figures 3.1 and 3.2 show 

the approximate locations of each sampling location on aerial photos. These aerial photos are 

from 2006, so they may not exactly match the current mine layout. Mine operations change 

regularly and the locations shown in this document may not be available for sampling during the 

sampling program. In the event that exact locations are not available, alternate selections will be 

made in the field to match the characteristics of the originally identified location. 

Water/soil and air temperature measurements will be made at all locations. 
Copyrighted page/s removed. Copyrighted material is not available in 

Regulations.gov since it may not be reproduced without consent of 

the copyright holder. 

Contact the EPA Docket Center’s Public Reading Room to view 

or receive a copy of this document. 

Requests for copies may be made as follows: 

In person/writing: 

Environmental Protection Agency, Docket Center 

1301 Constitution Ave NW, 2822T, Room 3334 

Washington, DC. 20004 

Telephone: 

202-566-1744 

Fax: 

202-566- 9744 

Email: 

docket-customerservice@epa.gov 
7

3.2.1 Heap Leach 

Figure 3.1 shows the locations for sampling at the leach pads. 

3.2.1.1 Leach Pads

Cortez operates two heap leach pad areas. The north leach pad is designated as Area 28 and the 

south leach pad is designated as Area 30. Each pad consists of areas under active leach and areas 

that have not been leached for various lengths of time (inactive areas). Leaching may occur on 

both sloped and flat surfaces at each pad. Photos 3.1 through 3.5 show various leach pad 

surfaces. 

Twenty samples will be taken at pad locations during active leaching (active areas). Between 

eight to 16 samples will be taken at pad locations where leaching once occurred, but has been 

discontinued for various lengths of time (inactive areas). The inactive area sampling will include 

areas that have had a layer of new ore placed upon previously leached ore, but leaching of the 

new ore has not yet commenced. 

3.2.1.2 Leach Solution Ponds

For convenience and efficiency, only the Area 28 solution ponds will be sampled (see Photo 3.6) 

and emissions from the remaining leach solution ponds (and liquid surface areas of the solution 

collection ditches and CIC tanks) will be modeled based on this data. Two flux chamber 

samples will be collected from each pond. Due to accessibility problems, the flux chamber 

samples may need to be collected using pond water placed in small tubs on the pond bank. 

 
8

 Photo 3.1 Active leach, Area 30, Panel 7 Photo 3.2 Inactive Leach, Area 30, Panel 2 

Photo 3.3 Active Leach, Area 30, Slope Photo 3.4 Active Leach, Area 30 

Photo 3.5 Active Leach, Area 28 Photo 3.6 Process Solution Ponds, Area 28 
9

3.2.2 Mill and Tailings Impoundment 

Figure 3.2 shows the locations for sampling at the mill and Figure 3.1 shows the locations for 

sampling at the tailings impoundment. 

3.2.2.1 Mill CIL Circuit

Figure 3.3 provides a process flow diagram for the mill CIL circuit. This circuit includes a 

grinding surge tank, a small mixer tank, a slurry thickener tank (located indoors, see Photo 3.7), 

CIL tanks (eight in series, see Photo 3.8), Mill CIC tanks, clarifier tanks, a cyanide destruct tank, 

and a reclaim water tank. The thickener tank, first and last CIL tanks, and one clarifier tank will 

be sampled. Emissions from the remaining tanks, with the exception of the surge and reclaim 

water tanks, will be modeled based on this data. The surge and reclaim water tank emissions 

will be modeled based on data from the tailings impoundment supernatant pond. 

3.2.2.2 Tailings Impoundment

The tailings impoundment consists of an aqueous surface area (supernatant pond, see Photo 3.9) 

and dry and wet sediment surface areas (beach areas, see Photo 3.10). There are five earthen 

ramps that provide good access to the impoundment where all three of these surfaces can be 

accessed and sampled. Two of the five earthen ramps will be selected for sampling access based 

on the current addition of tailings into the pond. The dry beach areas are typically closest to the 

earthen ramps. Wet beaches are accessed by crossing the dry areas. Samples from the 

supernatant pond will be accessed from the supernatant pond shore by constructing a temporary 

boom from the shore at the south access area and suspending the chamber from the boom 

structure. 
10

Figure 3.3 Mill Process Flow Diagram 

Mix Tank

NaCN

 Ore Slurry

Thickened

Slurry CIL 1 CIL 2 CIL 3 CIL 4

CIL 5 CIL 6 CIL 7 CIL 8

To Tails

Cyanide

Destruct

Clarifiers

Thickener

Overflow

Grinding

Surge

Tank

Overflow

CIC Tanks

= Sample Location
11

 

Photo 3.7 Indoor Thickener Photo 3.8 CIL Tanks 

Photo 3.9 Tails Supernatant Pond Photo 3.10 Tails Beach 
12

4 Project Instructions 

It is estimated that this project will require four days of flux chamber testing that can be 

conducted during one site trip (baring any restrictions on site or unforeseen weather conditions). 

This will require a crew of three people and between two and four flux chamber systems. 

4.1 Schedule 

The project will be executed the week of November 30, 2009. The project team will arrive in the 

afternoon the day before testing. All equipment and field supplies will be inventoried and pretesting calibrations will be performed that day. On the initial day of testing, the first order of 

business will be to review health and safety issues (if necessary) and orient to the site. After this, 

testing will be conducted for the remainder of the day. It is anticipated that all testing will be 

completed within four days. All field progress will be recorded in a project log book and all 

chain-of-custody forms will be completed on the day of sample collection. All shipping records 

will be retained as part of the field data set. The person shipping samples will be responsible for 

contacting the laboratory prior to sample receipt. Provided there are no delays with the sampling 

or the laboratory analyses, a final report is expected to be completed on January 15, 2010. 

4.2 Equipment List 

The list of field equipment and expendable supplies for the proposed field testing is provided 

below. All sampling media (prepared as per method specifications) will be provided by the 

contract laboratory. The laboratory typically provides the sampling media for these methods and 

conducts blank testing to insure proper laboratory service. Dr. C.E. Schmidt will supply all other 

sampling equipment and expendable supplies. The complete flux chamber test package shall 

include the following: 

1) Four (4) US EPA flux chambers as per EPA design including 

a) Stainless steel Swage-lock fittings, 

b) Support cooler with a mounted rotometer (0-to-5 liter per minute) through the cooler walls, 

c) Brass, 2-stage regulator for bottled air (CGA 590 fitting for air) and 1/4" Swage-lock (male) adapter fitting, 

d) Ten foot, 1/4" teflon line with female fittings, 

e) Ten foot, 1/4" teflon air inlet/outlet support line, 

2) Large size plastic support cooler, 

3) Set of miscellaneous hand-tools including an adjustable crescent wrench for the CGA 580 regulator fitting, small adjustable 

crescent wrench for the 1/4" swage fittings, assorted medium and small size screw drivers, 

4) Teflon sheet (1/32" or thicker) for blank system testing, 

5) Type K thermocouple wires (2, 12') and temperature readout, 

6) Rigid-wall shipping/storage crate for the flux chamber mounted on roller wheels, 

7) Decontamination supplies including Alconox soap, paper towels, and wash water, 

8) Six (6) bottles of ultra high purity air (size 150), 

9) Purge pump for sample line purging, 

10) Ropes for suspension from the net supports, 

11) Sample materials, including 

a) Impinger bottles, 

b) Impinger solution, 

c) Sample bottles (in shipping containers), 

d) Preprinted labels, 

e) Preprinted COC forms, 

f) Sealing tape (PVC and clear plastic) 

g) Six (6) sample pumps, 

h) Pump calibrator, 

i) Plastic gloves, 

12) Field Test Equipment 

a) pH meter, 
13

b) Spare batteries, 

c) Assorted plastic beakers, 

d) Plastic graduated cylinders (10 ml, 100 ml, 1000 ml), 

e) Cyanide Draeger tubes (1 to 150 mg/m3), 

f) Four (4) gallons of DI water, 

g) Two (2) DI water wash bottle, 

h) Two (2) impinger reagent wash bottles, 

i) Liquid phase cyanide test kit (low range), 

j) Liquid phase cyanide test kit (high range), 

k) Teflon liquid sampling staff, 

13) Hand held anemometer, 

14) Two way radios, 

15) Flashlights, 

16) Camera, 

17) Life jackets, 

18) Fire extinguisher, strobe, and flag for vehicle, 

19) Visibility vests, 

20) Hard hat, and 

21) Safety glasses. 

4.3 Site Safety and Access 

The Cortez mine is located 38 miles south of Interstate 80, Exit #261 (Beowawe exit) on State 

Route 306, Nevada. 

The shipping/mailing address is 

John J. Renas

C/O Barrick Cortez

HC 66 Box 1250

Crescent Valley, NV 89821

Hard hats, steel-toed shoes, visibility vests and safety glasses are the only specific safety 

equipment required at the plant site. A one hour safety training session will be held on the 

morning of testing or prior to testing. Radio use appears to be unrestricted on the site, but the 

use of FM Walkie-Talkies and cellular telephones will be verified by plant safety personnel. 

The sampling team is advised to prepare for the possibility of cold weather. Sampling may not 

be conducted for safety reasons if the visibility is below 200 ft. Frozen ground, snow cover, and 

winds over 30 mph may also compromise sampling. 

 
14

Table 4.2 presents the contact list for this project. 

Table 4.2 - List of Contacts 

Org. Name Phone/Cell (c) Fax/E-Mail Comments 

Barrick Cortez Brent Downey 775-468-4545 bdowney@barrick.com Chief Environmental 

Engineer 

Barrick Cortez Brian Musser 775-468-4407 bmusser@barrick.com Environmental 

Superintendent 

Barrick Cortez John J. Renas (775) 468-4287 

(775) 397-8634 (c) 

(775) 468-4496 

jrenas@barrick.com 

Environmental GIS 

Coordinator 

Barrick Melissa Barbanell 801-990-3815 mbarbanell@barrick.com Internal Counsel 

PB&L Mike Tomko 801-536-6718 MTomko@parsonsbehle.com Outside Counsel 

CE Schmidt Dr. Charles 

Schmidt 

530-529-4256 

530-200-2473 (c) 

530-529-4878 On-site Sampler 

EMC Tom Card 360-802-5540 

425-417-2420 (c) 

trcard@earthlink.net On-site Sampler and 

Modeler 

ALS Shawn Ludlow 800-356-9135 801-268-4748 Hydrogen Cyanide 

Laboratory 

4.4 Site Provided Equipment and Services 

The following equipment and/or support services will be required from the Cortez site staff: 

4.4.1 Onsite Transportation 

The site is extremely large with rough terrain and large off-road equipment. For safety reasons, 

it is preferred to have an escort to the sampling locations. The escort will have to be on call at all 

times in order to complete the proposed scope and schedule. 

4.4.2 Laboratory Services 

The onsite laboratory (or the Barrick Goldstrike laboratory) will need to analyze the leach 

solution for pH and cyanide concentration using the normal protocols. This will allow the 

estimation of future emissions based on the normal process testing. It is anticipated that there 

will be a maximum of 36 samples over the three day sampling period. 

4.4.3 Office Support 

Access to a copy machine will be needed each evening to copy data sheets, log sheets, and COC 

forms. 

4.4.4 Process Data Collection 

Site and process data will be collected for each assessment. A general list of information that 

will be collected as part of the assessment is provided below: 

• Current site maps/aerial photos showing process unit/facility sizes and locations. 

• Cyanide solution chemistry- cyanide concentration, pH, and temperature. 

• Leach pad operating conditions- active and inactive surface areas, leach solution 

application system for active areas, and duration of inactivity for inactive areas. 

• Process surface areas- drawings/aerial photos, calculated surface areas of all area 

sources. 
15

• Local weather information- on site met station(s), data files, and data management. 

4.5 Shipping 

The sample shipping address for the samples is: 

ALS Laboratories

Mr. Ryan Potter

960 West LeVoy Drive

Salt Lake City, UT  84123

801‐266‐7700

Liquid impinger solution samples will be shipped in 40 ml VOA vials on ice. 

5 Sampling Protocols 

5.1 Gas Sampling 

All gas phase sampling will use NIOSH 7904 with midget Teflon impingers. Screening samples 

for detection limit management will be taken with colorimeteric detection tubes. 

5.2 Liquid Sampling 

Liquid samples will be taken using a Teflon sampling staff or polyethylene beaker. Samples will 

be taken from as close as possible to the flux chamber and as close as possible to the surface. 

6 Analytical Protocols 

This section describes the analytical protocols that will be used to analyze the field samples. 

Copies of all protocols used are available upon request. 

6.1 NIOSH 7904 for Hydrogen Cyanide 

The method has been modified per the QAPP to achieve detection limits of 0.1 g.