A framework for a sustainable approach to mine tailings management: disposal strategies

Abstract

The aim of mine tailings management strategy is to protect the environment and humans from risks associated with mine tailings. It seems inevitable that future production from lower grade ores in mines will increase, generating a higher tonnage of tailings. Approximately 14 billion tonnes of tailings were produced globally by the mining industry in 2010. The need for a comprehensive framework for mine tailings management (including dewatering) that promotes sustainable development is therefore becoming increasingly recognised by the mining industry. In this paper, we review existing frameworks for tailings management and propose an improved framework that considers key sustainable development pillars: technological, economic, environmental, policy, and social aspects. This framework will be able to guide the mining sector to choose its mine tailings management strategy based on sustainable development concepts. It incorporates a range of tools for determining trade-offs inherent in different tailings management methods during operation and throughout the Life of Mine (LOM); these include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Net Present Value (NPV), Hierarchy System Model (HSM), and Decision Analysis. In particular, this proposed recognises the highly casespecific of tailings management by explicitly integrating physicochemical characterisation of tailings properties as a first step. In future, the framework could be expanded through integration of reuse/recycle principles of industrial symbiosis.

Impaired Short-Term Functioning of a Benthic Community from a Deep Norwegian Fjord Following Deposition of Mine Tailings and Sediments

“…About 60% (iron) to 99.99% (gold) of the ore processed in mines is discarded as non-economic by-product resulting in an annual waste production of 14 billion tons of fine tailings worldwide (Jones and Boger, 2012;Vogt, 2013). While many solutions for the recycling of tailings have been proposed (Bian et al, 2012;Adiansyah et al, 2015), the vast majority is discarded in landfills, lakes, riverine systems, and the marine environment. The environmental and socio-economic consequences of tailings disposal can be devastating so that a proper management and sustainable use of mine tailings requires more attention (Franks et al, 2011;Bian et al, 2012;Adiansyah et al, 2015).…”

“…While many solutions for the recycling of tailings have been proposed (Bian et al, 2012;Adiansyah et al, 2015), the vast majority is discarded in landfills, lakes, riverine systems, and the marine environment. The environmental and socio-economic consequences of tailings disposal can be devastating so that a proper management and sustainable use of mine tailings requires more attention (Franks et al, 2011;Bian et al, 2012;Adiansyah et al, 2015). For reasons of risk reduction on land as well as economic and esthetical considerations (Kvassnes and Iversen, 2013) the disposal of inert tailings material into streams and the marine environment known as riverine tailings disposal (RTD), submarine tailings placement (STP) and deep-sea tailings placement (DSTP) have been proposed and implemented (Vogt, 2013).…”

Synergising water and energy requirements to improve sustainability performance in mine tailings management

“…A modelling analysis is also used to estimate the water and energy consumption in different tailings management scenarios. These two steps (rheology and modelling) were mentioned in Adiansyah et al (2015) as part of a framework for achieving sustainable mine tailings management.…”

“…it has created an opportunity to reduce the water content in tailings during transport to the TSF, helping to reduce the risk of tailings dam failure, minimise TSF footprints, and reclaim energy (Boger, 2013). Many mining operations apply rheological assessments to their mine tailings management systems including Alcoa bauxite production as presented in Adiansyah et al (2015). Alcoa in Western Australia has been altering their disposal management system from wet to dry tailings.…”

Sustainability and Tailings Management in the Mining Industry: Paste Technology

“…Autonomously, the exploration and extraction of the ores at modern mines need to be maximized while minimizing their costs [8]. The need for a low cost and efficient tailings management technique in mines is driving mine operators to consider using the tailings as a raw material source for hard rock mines worldwide.…”