Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine paste plant design, start-up and early operation overview

Javadi, Sadegh; Pirouz, Behnam; Williams, Philip G.; Zarabadi, A; Seif, HR

doi:10.36487/acg_rep/1504_06_javadi

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Even though there were initial commissioning problems, importantly, the requirement to produce a thickened tailings at the design requirement of 59 to 60%m at an unsheared yield stress of 150 Pa was met (Javadi et al 2015).…”

Section: Application In Large Tonnage Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Vietti¹

2021

Paste 2021: 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings

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A decade ago, paste and thickened tailings (P&TT) disposal was regarded as a potential technology for eliminating so-called wet tailings dams. Despite numerous very successful examples of both surface and backfill applications, by 2015, confidence in the technology had waned after the technical difficulties encountered at two high-profile, large tonnage copper tailings projects in South America. The recent spate of deadly tailings dam disasters has refocused public and private sector attention on conventional tailings disposal. The knee-jerk reaction from the mining industry has been to ignore P&TT and focus on dry stacking as the solution to the problem, which itself is still a relatively immature technology for large tonnages. This paper attempts to explain the apparent lack of recognition that P&TT as a legitimate and safe tailings disposal method has received. A chronological review of P&TT technology implementation and possible reasons for its loss of favour, particularly in large tonnage applications, is provided.

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Section: Application In Large Tonnage Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Vietti¹

2021

Paste 2021: 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings

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“…The current tailings production rate is approximately 29 Mtpa. The mine utilises 12 existing paste thickeners to produce paste with a consistency of approximately 59% (w/w) solids concentration (Javadi et al 2015). The thickened tailings are distributed evenly into two arms (western and eastern streams) which eventually merge together just before the tailings embankment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mixing requirement for ultra paste tailings

Roshdieh¹,

Javadi²,

Williams³

et al. 2021

Proceedings of the International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings

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A controlling variable for a thickened tailings scheme design is the beach slope that will be formed by the tailings as they deposit. The slope will be mainly related to the discharge flow rate and the slurry rheology. The latter will, in turn, be dependent on the solids concentration of the thickener underflow. A higher solids concentration can be achieved by combining thickening and filtration. The objective is to still maintain a slurry that is pumpable and self-distributing at the tailings storage facility (TSF), rather than having to rely on trucks or on conveyors and stacking systems to manage a 'cake', but one that will deposit at a steeper beach slope than can be achieved by thickening alone. The use of ultra paste has the potential to broaden the range of topographic conditions that will suit thickened tailings discharge.The ultra paste thickened option is when a portion of the tailings is separated and dewatered in a more advanced dewatering unit (in this case filter presses). The filtered cake will then be re-mixed with the paste thickener underflow stream.This paper presents a case study for a large copper mine in which underflow from a series of paste thickeners with a nominal tonnage of 3,660 tph at 59% solids concentration would be mixed with 1,363 tph of filter cake at 80% solids concentration. The combined tailings (ultra paste) would be discharged equally into two open channels (flumes) at the combined solids concentration of 63.5%.The ultimate goal of adopting an 'ultra paste' scheme is to produce homogenous consistency tailings, hence proper mixing of the paste and filter cake has to occur. In this study based on a series of tests, the mixing requirement has been assessed. The study also covers a conceptual investigation of natural turbulent mixing (NTM) of the filtered tailings with paste thickened tailings and issues associated with the deposition of the combined tailings, the ultra paste, into the existing TSF.In the conclusion, the study indicates that NTM can possibly occur only for the case in which the total tailings are discharged into one channel, which is not practical due to limitations with regards to tailings management. Hence, mechanical mixing has been recommended in this case.

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Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine paste plant design, start-up and early operation overview

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Mixing requirement for ultra paste tailings

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