Márcio Mansur Gomes, J. Filho, J. Pinheiro, C. Crystal
{"title":"Disposal of tailings and the mining industry perspective: a case study of the Cuiabá Mine","authors":"Márcio Mansur Gomes, J. Filho, J. Pinheiro, C. Crystal","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_14_GOMES","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_14_GOMES","url":null,"abstract":"One of the methods that has been studied for the disposal of tailings by the mining industry is dry stacking. Several studies have indicated that the use of filtered tailings is feasible under certain technical and operational conditions. The requirements for deposition, and characterisation of the tailings properties, must be obtained through a wide range of field and laboratory tests. These parameters are key to determining the behaviour of the material during the dewatering process, the optimum moisture content and the maximum density of the tailing cake, as well as the physical and environmental stability of the projected geotechnical structure. The operational aspects related to the handling of the material are also vital to determine the placement of the filtered tailings on the facility. \u0000In addition, the advantages with respect to water consumption, reduced and/or flexible stack footprints and geometries, seepage control requirements, closure/reclamation costs and public perception of risk can result in dry stacking being selected as an economically beneficial alternative, particularly if life-of-mine risks and costs are appropriately considered. As with any conventional tailings management approach, careful and diligent planning, engineering and operational controls, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), instrumentation and monitoring are required to manage risks and uncertainties. \u0000This paper presents the criteria that need to be evaluated in the evaluation of filtered tailings as a business case, based on the experience of the authors developing such projects within the minerals industry.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77024330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Maintaining high availability and low operational costs for filtered tailings facilities","authors":"T. Wisdom","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_23_WISDOM","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_23_WISDOM","url":null,"abstract":"High availability of filtration equipment is essential for reducing the capital cost on tailings filtration projects. At the same time, low operational costs are needed to maintain mine profitability. High availability, greater than 90%, and low operational costs can be achieved at the same time through good equipment design, good building layout, automation, and proper maintenance procedures.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84714542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Satellite bathymetry for the monitoring of supernatant water volumes within tailings storage facilities","authors":"L. Navarro, G. Aravena, J. Engels, J. Turner","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_13_ENGELS","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_13_ENGELS","url":null,"abstract":"The availability of water plays a fundamental role in the operational continuity associated with mineral and metal extraction operations. As part of this process, it is necessary to recover as much water as possible for reuse and reduce make-up water requirements while trying to maintain a reduced impact on the surrounding environment and natural resources. Specifically related to tailings disposal, the past few decades have seen a shift towards high-density tailings with advances in thickening and filtering technologies, thus improving the water recovery and reducing the volumes of water deposited within a tailings storage facility. However, the vast majority of tailings facilities worldwide still generate a supernatant pond as the tailings naturally consolidate and bleed. These ponds need to be controlled in their size and volume, particularly in larger throughput operations. In some countries, it is a requirement to report volume to the authorities on a routine basis. \u0000This paper presents a study to monitor the growth of supernatant ponds in tailings facilities using remote sensing techniques. Principally, this relates to a multispectral analysis of satellite bands which, by means of various corrections and applications of combinations of these bands through mathematical algorithms, the depths of relatively shallow supernatant ponds can be determined reasonably accurately. The importance of the study is to provide an alternative to current in situ monitoring techniques, such as sonar instrumentation, which is limited to a minimum depth. The added advantage is that satellite monitoring delivers information quickly and cost effectively and, more importantly, avoids the requirement for human presence, thus reducing operational risks.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87677865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Li Jie Guo, Wenchen Li, A. Pan, Liu Guangsheng, Wenyuan Xu
{"title":"Use of reactive MgO-activated slag in high sulphide-bearing lead-zinc cemented backfill","authors":"Li Jie Guo, Wenchen Li, A. Pan, Liu Guangsheng, Wenyuan Xu","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_31_GUO","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_31_GUO","url":null,"abstract":"The long-term strength of cemented backfill mass with ordinary Portland cement binder generally decreases with sulphide content due to the formation of expansive phases such as gypsum. This paper investigates the potential of using commercial reactive MgO-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (MgO-GGBS) in cemented backfill from high sulphide content lead-zinc mine tailings to prevent long-term strength loss. The study focuses on the effect of MgO-GGBS content and the reactive MgO dosage on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and the shrinkage/expansion rate. The test results showed that the 28-day UCS of cemented backfill achieved the target strength (≧1.0 MPa) with 14 wt% MgO-GGBS content, and the reactive MgO dosage affected the long-term UCS and the shrinkage/expansion rate of cemented backfill body. The main hydration products when using MgO-GGBS were hydrated calcium/magnesium silicate (C-S-H/M-S-H) and hydrotalcite-like phases (Ht). Cemented backfill has a porous opening microstructure. Micro-expansion produced by appropriate MgO content can increase microstructure density, which increases short- and longterm UCS of cemented backfill body, while sustained expansion produced by excessive MgO could destroy the MgO-GGBS microstructure, decreasing the UCS of cemented backfill. We conclude that the mechanical and extension properties of cemented backfill body are highly dependent on the reactive MgO content of the MgO-GGBS. The optimum value of responsive MgO content of MgO-GGBS was 2.5–7.5 wt% to achieve the long-term stability of cemented backfill.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84676719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"One year of paste operations at Jabal Sayid, Saudi Arabia","authors":"R. Brown, N. Smith, P. Carmichael","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_27_BROWN","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_27_BROWN","url":null,"abstract":"It took five years to bring mining with paste backfill to Ma’aden Barrick Copper Company’s (MBCC) Jabal Sayid Mine in Saudi Arabia. The work involved various studies, multiple test programs, site visits for benchmarking and detailed engineering before the paste system was commissioned in October 2017. Barrick is a world leader in paste backfill and drew on international teams to conceptualise, design and construct this 225 m3/hr cemented paste backfill system. Value engineering, peer reviews and risk management workshops were held throughout the process to ensure MBCC received value for money and a reliable system. \u0000The paste plant was required to handle a tailings stream that was originally planned to produce hydraulic fill (the coarse fraction) but through the reintroduction of fine tailings was able to generate a good paste product that met mining needs. Challenges involved getting the most out of the tailings dewatering circuits (both fine and coarse streams), the local conditions (temperatures >50°C), large bulk stopes fed by a gravity system and the capital cost associated with building a high throughput system with significant cement storage. \u0000This paper presents the history of the project, test work, engineering design and construction, commissioning, and training required to fill the first stope. More recent backfill monitoring, data logging, improvements and ongoing optimisation of the system that have continued through the first year of paste production are also presented.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85147744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Required strength evaluation model and its application for vertically exposed backfill: inspired by Mitchell’s physical model tests","authors":"G. Liu, Xc Yang, A. Pan, Lj Guo, L. Li","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_33_LIU","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_33_LIU","url":null,"abstract":"Cemented paste backfill is an increasingly popular technique to improve ground stability in underground mines. This technique is used in several mining methods that require strength evaluation for the vertically exposed cemented backfill following the excavation of an adjacent stope on one side. The critical strength is generally evaluated with an analytical solution proposed by Mitchell et al. (1982). Despite its wide acceptance in academia and application in the mining industry, the Mitchell solution has received only a few updates in the literature, including some new developments given by the authors and colleagues. \u0000The original Mitchell solution and its variants were mainly validated against the physical model test results obtained by Mitchell et al. (1982). Even though the Mitchell model debatably assumed a zero backfill friction angle, the required strengths predicted by the Mitchell solution corresponded quite well to those obtained by physical model tests. \u0000This study reanalysed the Mitchell solution and its physical model. The testing conditions and procedures for measuring the shear strength parameters are investigated. The stability of the cemented backfill upon removal of a confining wall is analysed with FLAC3D. The comparisons between the numerical modellings, experimental results and analytical solutions are presented, and the applicable range of the classical Mitchell solution is discussed. \u0000A new analytical solution is proposed to evaluate the minimum required strength of the cemented backfill confined by two sidewalls exposed on one side and subject to pressure from uncemented backfill on the opposite side. The proposed analytical solution is validated by numerical simulations with FLAC3D. \u0000The proposed analytical solution is used to determine the theoretical strength requirement of cemented backfill in primary stopes of an iron mine that employs stage stoping with subsequent backfill mining. The floating Factor of Safety (FS) characterising the current backfilling quality control level of this mine was statistically evaluated with a large amount of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) data after testing vast drilled samples from field stopes. The engineered strength requirement of the cemented backfill in primary stopes had been finalised by combining the analytical results and floating FS of the mine.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85270682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H. Grobler, Vasileios Chatziefstratiou, Ourania P. Mousli, M. Yumlu
{"title":"Design of high-strength backfill for a drift-and-fill mining method at Olympias Mine, Greece","authors":"H. Grobler, Vasileios Chatziefstratiou, Ourania P. Mousli, M. Yumlu","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_28_GROBLER","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_28_GROBLER","url":null,"abstract":"Olympias Mine is operated by Hellas Gold S.A., a subsidiary of Eldorado Gold Corporation. The orebody shape and size are suitable for a drift and fill mining method. The mining sequence is overhand and the demand for backfill strengths are generally low except for the initial sill cuts. The design fill strengths are determined from the planned stope exposures to allow for safe extraction of the ore in adjacent drifts and immediately below the initial sill drifts with minimum dilution. Due to the permit constraints imposed on mining at Olympias Mine, after an environmental impact assessment, there is a requirement that the final backfill strength must reach a uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of 4.0 MPa at 28-day cure age. By developing a suit of mix recipes incorporating superplasticiser admixtures, it was possible to achieve the strength demands and the workability of the backfill. This paper presents the results from comprehensive test work conducted on whole mill tailings and cyclone mill tailings to produce high strength backfill.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79281425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An integrated approach to cost comparisons of different tailings management options","authors":"A. Carneiro, A. Fourie","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_05_CARNEIRO","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_05_CARNEIRO","url":null,"abstract":"There are growing expectations of mining companies to operate in a more sustainable manner, with a strong business case for improving waste management and reducing environmental impacts. As the stewardship of tailings come under increasing scrutiny, decision-makers are urged to adopt a robust approach to the selection of a tailings management strategy that encompasses design for closure, and leading practices to lower the risk of catastrophic dam failures, optimise the use of resources, and mitigate environmental impacts on climate change. An integrated analysis, considering economic, environmental, social, and risk aspects of the operation can therefore provide decision-makers with balanced information to ensure the right projects proceed with an optimal business case so that the most cost-effective solution, that does not externalise costs, can be selected. However, literature review revealed that fundamental shortcomings exist within traditional evaluation approaches used for economic comparisons. This paper reports on life cycle cost analyses conducted for comparing various tailings management options under different scenarios. A conceptual case study for the disposal of gold tailings in Western Australia as a slurry, as thickened, or as filtered tailings, was considered. This was done for examining the extent to which potentially hidden costs impact on the total cost of a project. It is suggested that the proposed approach will lead to selection of a tailings management alternative that ensures sound economic, environmental, and social performance is achieved.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79727747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance: leading innovation in oil sands tailings","authors":"D. Corriveau","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_0.01_CORRIVEAU","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_0.01_CORRIVEAU","url":null,"abstract":"Innovation flourishes at the intersection of great challenges meeting compelling solutions. Canada�s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) is an alliance of oil sands producers focused on accelerating the pace of improvement in environmental performance in Canada�s oil sands through collaborative action and innovation. \u0000COSIA's membership accounts for over 90% of the oil sands product in Canada. Canada�s oil sands producers are competitors and rivals; but they are also partners in a made-in-Canada collaboration model that is helping to redefine, globally, how companies can innovate together, and accelerate solution development to address some of the world�s biggest challenges. \u0000COSIA companies are working aggressively to accelerate the pace of environmental performance improvement in the oil sands. Canada�s oil sands industry is committed to reducing all aspects of its environmental footprint, reclaiming all lands affected by operations, and maintaining biodiversity. \u0000To create breakthrough science and technologies, COSIA brings together leading thinkers from industry, government, academia and the public. In addition, COSIA members themselves work together, each sharing considerable in-house expertise, innovation and intellectual property within the alliance, and dedicating substantial funds to COSIA�s many environmental performance projects. \u0000The unique characteristics of oil sands tailings provide member companies with an opportunity to seek out innovative tailings management and technology solutions for responsible and sustainable growth of this key global energy resource. \u0000This keynote address will elaborate on each of the Environmental Priority Areas (EPA), with an emphasis on the Tailings EPA. It will provide the audience with a brief history, achievements, current technical challenges, and opportunities for collaboration to close remaining knowledge and technical gaps to accelerate the pace of environmental performance improvement.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80721952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tailings properties affecting the stacking angle of cyclone underflow","authors":"R. Cooper","doi":"10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_10_COOPER","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_REP/1910_10_COOPER","url":null,"abstract":"The storage capacity and rate of rise of a tailings storage facility (TSF) constructed utilising the tailings to form the TSF is dependent on the outer side slopes of the facility. A number of TSFs in South Africa are operated utilising cyclones to construct the outer wall zone of the TSF. The outer slope is dependent on the stacking angle of the cyclone underflow and hence it is critical that the design of the TSF accurately estimates the stacking angle. There are no clear guidelines to make this estimation other than to compare to similar projects. This methodology has resulted in a few TSFs in which the stacking angle was either over or underestimated leading to an inaccurate life assessment. This paper hypothesises that the yield stress of the underflow has the most significant effect on the stacking angle. The hypothesis is tested by measuring various tailings properties on a tailings operation in relation to the stacking angle achieved to attempt to develop a method to predict the stacking angle for future projects.","PeriodicalId":20480,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87901986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}