Feasibility (pre-development) monitoring is required to establish baseline environmental conditions, against which operational phase impacts, regulatory compliance and rehabilitation performance will be assessed throughout the life of the mine.
Before a mining project enters development, a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) is required during the feasibility stage. Environmental monitoring data plays a critical role in identifying potential environmental risks and establishing baseline conditions prior to mining activities. Baseline data provides a reference against which potential project impacts can be assessed during the construction, operation and closure phases of the project.
Establishing the environmental Baseline
SGS provides a comprehensive end-to-end environmental monitoring solution to ensure our clients obtain high quality, traceable and robust data that withstands regulatory and lender scrutiny. Our multidisciplinary environmental teams, comprising engineers, environmental scientists and analytical chemists, provide comprehensive support in the design and implementation of environmental baseline studies, tailored to the specific requirements of your mining project.
Our experienced field service teams are capable of working in remote environments and ensure that samples are collected, preserved and transported in accordance with internationally recognized and locally accepted methodologies.
Through our world-leading network of ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories, SGS ensures that all samples are analysed to the highest quality and assurance standards.
Ambient air monitoring
Ambient air monitoring is a core component of baseline environmental assessments for mining projects. It establishes pre-development air quality conditions and provides a baseline against which operational impacts are assessed. Our field sampling teams are able to offer these services in remote and challenging environments, using a combination of reference method equipment, passive samplers and innovative sensor-based professional air quality stations, capable of autonomous operation via solar power.
Our services include:
- Particulate matter
- Dust deposition, total suspended particulate (TSP) and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) monitoring
- Gases
- Measurement of indicator parameters, such as SO2, NO2, NOx, CO, O3 and VOCs, through either passive, active or sensor-based near-reference monitoring equipment
- Meteorological data
- Wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc. to inform dispersion modeling and impact prediction
Surface and groundwater monitoring
Surface and groundwater monitoring is required to establish pre-development hydrological and chemical conditions.
Surface water monitoring includes the assessment of stream flow, seasonal variability and water quality parameters such as water chemistry, nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons and biological indicators.
Groundwater investigations include:
- Installation of monitoring boreholes/piezometers to assess water level and aquifer recharge rates
- Sample collection and analysis of water chemistry, metals, hydrocarbons and biological indicators
Soil and sediment quality
Soil and sediment environmental monitoring is undertaken to establish pre-development reference conditions against which any future contamination or operational impact can be measured. This includes the collection and analysis of representative soil and sediment samples for:
- Heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn)
- Hydrocarbons (TPH), PAHs
- pH, organic matter, nutrient status
- Sediment quality upstream and downstream of project areas
Noise and vibration
Noise and vibration monitoring establishes the pre-project acoustic environment and provides a defensible baseline for impact prediction and regulatory compliance. Environmental baseline monitoring includes:
- Ambient noise surveys measuring key parameters, such as LAeq, Lmax and Lmin
- Assessment of diurnal variation to capture daytime and nighttime conditions
- Identification and mapping of sensitive receptors, including schools, clinics and residential communities
- Baseline vibration monitoring where blasting, drilling or heavy machinery operations are proposed
Biodiversity and eDNA services
Our biodiversity assessments identify ecological sensitivity and support informed environmental decision making. Through advanced environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and next generation sequencing technologies, we detect rare, cryptic and invasive species, identify pathogens and unlock comprehensive biodiversity insights across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Our services include:
- Vegetation surveys (species composition, richness, habitat type)
- Faunal surveys (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects)
- Red List and protected species mapping
- Habitat connectivity and ecosystem function
- Wetland delineation and sensitivity
FAQs
Environmental baseline monitoring should begin as early as possible, ideally during the pre-feasibility or early feasibility stage, to allow sufficient time to collect robust seasonal data. For large and internationally funded projects, baseline monitoring and analysis programs typically run for at least 12 months to capture seasonal variability, ground and surface water fluctuations, and air quality and meteorological variations. Ongoing monitoring continues throughout the life of the mine.
Passive ambient air monitoring may be used during the mining feasibility stage to establish baseline air quality conditions before construction or operations begin. Because the methodology does not rely on electricity or permanent infrastructure, it is ideal for remote exploration sites where no fixed facilities have been established.
TSP, PM₁₀ and PM2.5 are key indicators of ambient air quality and are commonly regulated due to their potential environmental and human health impacts. Dust emissions are one of the most significant environmental and occupational health risks in mining operations. They occur throughout the mine lifecycle, from feasibility and construction to operation and closure. In mining, baseline air quality studies measuring these particulate fractions establish pre-development conditions against which the results of future dust monitoring programs can be assessed.
An ESIA is a structured process used to identify, predict and evaluate the potential environmental and social impacts of a proposed mining project before development begins. It is conducted during the feasibility and permitting stages to assess risks to ecosystems, water resources, air quality and local communities, and defines mitigation measures to manage those risks. It is a critical component of regulatory approval, lender requirements and responsible mine development planning.