SSR’s Turkey mine deaths blamed on design

SSR Mining (Nasdaq, TSX: SSRM; ASX: SSR), the third-largest U.S.-based gold miner, says an independent review shows a heap leach design flaw mostly likely killed nine workers at the Çöpler gold mine in eastern Turkey last year.

The heap leach failure on Feb. 13 caused a massive landslide that dislodged approximately 10 million cubic metres of earth across a 200-metre slope. It trapped and eventually killed the employees.

Third-party test data overestimated the shear strength properties of the liner system at the base of the heap leach, according to the report by consulting firm Call & Nicholas. Then construction crews, believing the liner was safe, built the heap leach following the engineered design.

There was no evidence to suggest excess water, ground vibrations from blasting, nor stacking beyond the design parameters caused the event, the consultant said in the report. 

“Knowing now that the failure was the result of an engineering design flaw, and not the result of a failure in our operation or construction of the pad, provides clarity and some reassurance to the team on the ground as we seek to restart the Çöpler mine,” SSR executive chairman Rod Antal said.

Suspended operations

Days after the incident, Turkish authorities revoked SSR’s environmental permits and later demanded the company pay the cleanup costs. Until the landslide and water issues are addressed, the Çöpler mine will remain suspended.

The heap leach incident is not the first time that Çöpler was forced to stop operating. In June 2022, the Turkish environment ministry ordered the mine’s suspension due to a spill of cyanide waste.

Located about 500 km east of Ankara, Çöpler is one of SSR’s cornerstone assets, boasting 3.2 million oz. of gold in proven and probable reserves with an estimated mine life of 20 years. The mine, owned 80% by the Denver-based gold miner, has been operating since 2010.

Shares in SSR Mining closer 4.6% stronger on Thursday in Toronto at $11.08 apiece for a market capitalization of $2.2 billion. The company grew recently after an asset purchase from Newmont.