Golder Associates opens new laboratory in Perth

Golder Associates has opened a new laboratory in Osborne Park, Perth, to extend its specialised testing service capabilities.

Laboratory manager Adrian Newton says: “Our new laboratory will position us as a specialist and innovative service provider for clients that need to perform technically challenging project design briefs. Our aim is to quickly become recognised as a Centre for Excellence.

“We’ve also invested in quality equipment such as load-permeability machines that take large diameter samples,” says Newton.

The Golder Associates laboratory will be the only commercial facility in Western Australia to own a Rowe cell, which allows modelling of heap leach processing for the design of large-scale facilities.

Companies expected to take advantage of the new facilities include those needing high-end geotechnical testing, predominantly in the mining and oil and gas sectors. In addition to specialised heap leach test work, specialist expertise and equipment exists for testing nickel laterite and uranium tailings.

The laboratory was designed to incorporate a number of safety features. It has new load-rated benches and storage racks, purpose-built robust sinks to take the weight of heavy steel moulds and an epoxy-coated, acid-resistant floor in the heap leach laboratory.

“The new lab not only allows us to conduct tests to a higher quality standard, but also allows us to safely manage hazardous material testing programs involving asbestos and radioactive samples, which many of our competitors cannot,” says Newton. “This makes it suitable for handling test work from uranium prospects.”

The laboratory has also been designed to be ecologically responsible and environmentally friendly. It has built-in features such as a dual inlet piping system for both greywater recycling or rainwater harvesting. It also features dual suspended solids and acidic water outflow piping to a silt trap and a 1200 L neutralisation/isolation tank.