An Alternative Technology to Obtain Dewatered Mine Tailings: Safe and Control Environmental Management of Filtered and Thickened Copper Mine Tailings in Chile
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An alternative process to obtain a high degree of dewatering tailings that produces a high-density product is presented in this article. This technology involves the combination of tailings particle grain size classification by hydrocyclones (HC) and tailings dewatering by horizontal vibratory screens (HVS). It makes it possible to dewater tailings to a high grade of performance. This alternative technology (HC-HVS) involves the recovery of water from the coarse fraction of tailings (sands) through two hydrocycloning stages, followed by a dewatering stage of cycloned tailings sands on horizontal vibratory screens, to reduce moisture content and turn it into a “cake”. The resulting coarse fraction tailings are easily transported to a dry stack tailings storage facility (TSF). The fine fraction of tailings (slimes) can be dewatered on thickener equipment to recover part of the process water. Finally, this article describes the main benefits of this alternative dewatered tailings technology with an emphasis on (i) dewatering technology evolution over the last 17 years; (ii) process stages features; (iii) pilot test results; (iv) tailings properties analysis (such as particle grain size distribution, fines content) and (v) lessons learned about the experience gained in the operation of Mantos Blancos case study with dry stack tailings storage facility.Keywords:
Dewatering
Comprehensive utilization of tailings resources is important.Compared with foreign countries,tailings utilization speed in China is slower,and tailings resources are dominantly used in filling mined empty area.According to estimation and analysis of tailings resources economic performance in China,the tailings quantities that can be recovered and reprocessed only occupy 15% of total tailings quantities.The main utilization mode of tailings resources in the future in China will be tailings reprocessing,being used as building materials,and being used in filling mined empty area.The economic policy about tailings utilization should be adjusted to resolve environmental problems of tailings resources.
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On the part of dehydration principle,equipment features,equipment investment,spare part consumption and direct cost and others,application of Linatex vibrating-dewatering screen in recovering tailings sands from ore treat plant was introduced.Real production results indicated that more than 0.15 million tons tailings sands could be recovered in one year by utilizing the dewatering screen.
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A method for tailings disposal and a flowsheet for tailing water treatment is presented acccrding to the properties and characteristics of tailings and tailing water as well as scientific research and operating experience.
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Acid Mine Drainage
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Tailings dewatering is an important part of the tailings disposal. Sludge dehydrant is a kind of important auxiliary agent in improving the tailings dehydration dehydrated efficiency in tailings enrichment dehydration. The paper reviews that the preparation and application of special flocculant of specialized flocculants for tailings water treatment. And it points out the development tendency of the specialized flocculants for tailings water treatment. Cationic polyacrylamide as one of dewatering agents is a suitable mean to solve tailings dewatering problem.
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The hot water process used to extract bitumen from the oil sands in northern Alberta produce an alkaline tailings stream containing sand, clays, residual bitumen, and small amounts of soluble organic compounds. The suspension formed by the fine clay minerals has proven to be resistant to consolidation, leaving a growing pool of persistent sludge in large tailings ponds. An introduction is provided to the literature that exists in the area of oil sand tailings characterization and treatment. Studies on the chemical, physical, and microbiological makeup of oil sands tailings and the tailings ponds are described, including settling and consolidation behavior of solids in tailings ponds and various theories as to why tailings pond sludge is so resistant to consolidation. Studies undertaken to reduce the tailings problem are reviewed, including investigation of reclamation methods for the mine site, and chemical, physical, geotechnical and biotechnical approaches to tailings treatment. Finally, there is a brief discussion of tailings problems in other industries and the methods used to try to alleviate those problems. 275 refs., 5 figs., 12 tabs.
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An alternative process to obtain a high degree of dewatering tailings that produces a high-density product is presented in this article. This technology involves the combination of tailings particle grain size classification by hydrocyclones (HC) and tailings dewatering by horizontal vibratory screens (HVS). It makes it possible to dewater tailings to a high grade of performance. This alternative technology (HC-HVS) involves the recovery of water from the coarse fraction of tailings (sands) through two hydrocycloning stages, followed by a dewatering stage of cycloned tailings sands on horizontal vibratory screens, to reduce moisture content and turn it into a “cake”. The resulting coarse fraction tailings are easily transported to a dry stack tailings storage facility (TSF). The fine fraction of tailings (slimes) can be dewatered on thickener equipment to recover part of the process water. Finally, this article describes the main benefits of this alternative dewatered tailings technology with an emphasis on (i) dewatering technology evolution over the last 17 years; (ii) process stages features; (iii) pilot test results; (iv) tailings properties analysis (such as particle grain size distribution, fines content) and (v) lessons learned about the experience gained in the operation of Mantos Blancos case study with dry stack tailings storage facility.
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Abstract Combined with the particle size classification of the tailings pond, according to the corresponding laws and regulations of the safe production process, the tailings pond is identified and analyzed from four aspects: human, material, environment and management. From the source, the possible harmful factors in the tailings pond are pointed out, which will provide reference for the safe and effective operation of the tailings pond in the future.
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ABSTRACT Vegetable wastes in the food industry are costly lo handle because of their high moisture content. while mill plant tailings in the mining industry contain large quantities of ultralines which are difficult io dewater.This paper describes the results of small scale electmosmotic dewatering (EOD) and combined field dewatering (CFD) measurements with model vegetable sludges and mine tailings.
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This report describes Bureau of Mines laboratory test results in electrokinetic dewatering and consolidation of metal-mine mill tailings from five mines in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, district. Classified (coarse) tailings, slimes, and unclassified material were separately tested. Tailings were placed in 0.3 ft/sup 3/ plexiglass models, and dc potential was applied until dewatering ceased. Time-oriented measurements of water removal, changes in resistivity, and power consumption were recorded during the dewatering process. Moisture content and density of the dewatered material at test end indicated the method to be generally effective for all materials examined, but best results were achieved with well-mixed unclassified tailings.
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