The Sarcheshmeh thickened tailings disposal project

MacNamara, Liam; Khoshniaz, Norsat; Hashemi, Sayed Aliasghar

doi:10.36487/acg_rep/1104_22_macnamara

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In 2012, the first large tonnage copper tailings P&TT scheme was implemented in Iran at NICICO's Sar Cheshme mine (MacNamara et al 2011). This scheme was treating an equivalent tonnage as Minera Esperanza (96,000 t/d), but the flow sheet included several smaller diameter DCT units (12 × 24 m diameter).…”

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Water scarcity in the region can justify the capital and operating costs of the utilisation of more sophisticated dewatering technologies (Roshdieh et al 2016). However, since 12 24 m diameter paste thickeners are already utilised (MacNamara et al 2011), the huge operating cost of material handling of the cake (transportation and distribution) could be a prohibiting factor in the utilisation of the filtration option (in this case filter presses).…”

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Sustainable Management of Thickened Tailings in Chile and Peru: A Review of Practical Experience and Socio-Environmental Acceptance

Vargas

Pulido

2022

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The “Thickened Tailings Disposal” (TTD) technology produces a high density mine waste that allows for the storage of this material without the need to manage large slurry tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and large dams. TTD has been applied considering site specific conditions of Chile and Peru, such as extreme climatic conditions, seismic risks, water scarcity, community demands, and environmental constraints. This review highlights the contribution of several experiences in Chile and Peru, which have chosen TTD technology for reduction of negative environmental impacts, mainly focusing on the following issues: (i) increase of tailings water recovery, (ii) reduction of TSFs footprint (impacted areas), (iii) decrease the risk of physical instability, avoiding the construction of high dams, and (iv) decrease of TSFs seepages. Finally, the article describes the advantages (benefits) and disadvantages (aspects to improve) of TTD, where nowadays a high degree of dewatering of tailings is seen as a safe option, considering the occurrence of some TSF dam failures recently worldwide, which has resulted in severe environmental pollution. A better environmental perception about TTD of authorities and communities, considering that this technology allows to satisfy the needs of stable and safe TSFs, make the TTD be more acceptable, popular and one of the best available technologies (BATs) for operations with mine tailings.

show abstract

The Sarcheshmeh thickened tailings disposal project

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Revaluing paste and thickened tailings for large tonnage applications

Mixing requirement for ultra paste tailings

Sustainable Management of Thickened Tailings in Chile and Peru: A Review of Practical Experience and Socio-Environmental Acceptance

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About