This document discusses new technologies for mine tailings disposal. It begins by defining mine tailings as ore waste from mines. The most common disposal method is tailings dams, but there are environmental risks. The document then examines three disposal methods - tailings dams, surface paste disposal, and disposal using geotextile materials. It analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Cost analyses show that surface paste disposal has the lowest operation costs and is the most appropriate economically for surface disposal of tailings.

1. NEW TECHNOLOGIES
ON MINE PROCESS
TAILING DISPOSAL
Guided by, Presented by,
JAYAPRAKASH. R Sreelekshmi M.A
LECTURER S5 Civil
Civil Engineering Roll No. 51
Department Register No.: 16010182

2.  Mine tailings are the ore waste of mines.
 Tailing dams are the most used method for the
disposal of mine tailings.
 Introduced by European Union on the Management
of Mine Tailing.
 The biggest advantages of this method is no need
of any disposal area and also it is eco-friendly.

3.  Ore waste of mines- mud-like material.
 Tailings are toxic and must be kept perpetually
isolated from the environment.
 Size and composition depends on the mining
method.
 Contain chemicals used for mineral extraction.

4. Figure 1: Mine Tailings

5.  Disposal of tailings -biggest environmental concern.
 Mine tailings do not become appreciably safer over
time, if stored properly.
 There are 3 methods of safety disposal :
 Tailings dam method of disposal
 Surface paste tailings disposal
 Tailings disposal method using geotextile material

6.  An earth-fill embankment dam- store by products
of mining .
 Should be constructed to contain waste materials
indefinitely.
 They are piped out in a slurry form to the pond, solids
settle and the water is pumped via a reclamation.
 One of the largest engineered structures on earth.

7.  Deposition of mine waste such as tailings and waste
rock.
 Provide long term stability against erosion and mass
movement.
 Must be kept behind a dam to prevent them from
flowing into waterway.

8. COMPONENT TAILINGS DAM WATER DAM
Stored material Tailings solids, process
water (various contaminant
levels) & runoff water
Water
Operating life Finite operating life (5 to
40 years)
Typically designated as 100
years, but “as long as
required by society”
Construction Period Staged over mine life of 2
to 25+ years
Usually 1 to 3 years.
Table 1:Comparison with water dam

9. DATE PLACE EXPLANATION
1982
Italy
Tailing mud spread around
as a result of the collapse of
the tailing dam, and 268
people killed.
1992
Kyrgyzstan
Harsh weather conditions
lead to the damaging of the
environment by seepage
water.
2001 Portugal AMD risk emerged in the
tailing dam.
2005 China Tailing mud leaked into a
river due to the collapse of
the tailing dam.
Table 2:environmental problems caused by tailing dams

10.  Used in the beginning of 20th century.
 Constructed in full capacity before starting any disposal
activity.
 3 main designings -upward elevation ,downward
elevation and elevation from centre.
 Upward elevation - lowest initial cost, widespread use ,
highest number of major environmental catastrophes .

11.  Downward elevation - to reduce the risks in upward
elevation sets,
 aim is to reduce the defeats that occur under
Dynamic loads such as earthquakes.
 Elevation from the center- Combination of upward
elevation sets and downward elevation sets.
 They are more resistant when compared to upward
elevation.

12. CONSTRUCTION METHOD
 Waste mud with 20% PSR taken out of the ore
preparation.
 Water that is collected in the upper section of the
dam is fed by water pumps.
 Design of tailing dam starts with the determination
of the type of dam to be used.

13. Fig 2: Tailing Dam Method

14.  First used in grund mine in Germany in the late 1970.
 Paste tailing technology applications along with
underground paste fill.
 Fine material with a texture pump by mixing with a
certain amount of water and additional binding
material.

15.  Tailing sample having 20% psr (pulp solid ratio)
dehydrated up to 65-70% PSR in the thickener.
 Binding material in the mixing tank is pumped to the
tailing area -75% PSR.
 Material having up to 100 pa of yield stress and
between 60% and 73% PSR is qualified as a slurry.
 Piston diaphragm type pump with a yield stress in the
interval of 100-250 pa is used for thickened tailings.

16.  Pipe length values- distance between the tailing area
and ore preparation facility.
 Pipe diameter -dimension that will enable the pulp to
move in the pipe without depositing.
 Critical settling speed- pulp speed not to fall below a
certain speed in order to the particles not to deposit.
 Calculated using the selected pipe diameter to be
lower than the flow rate of the pulp.
CONSTRUCTION METHOD(Contd.)

17. Fig 2: Surface paste disposal method

18.  First used in the field of dehydration in the 1970s, and
then in mining in the 1980s.
 Principle of pumping, dehydrating, and disposing of the
tailing of the facility in a material -geotextile tube.
 Geotextile tubes are produced with high strength and in
required dimensions.
 Not to need for any disposal area.

19. 18-Jul-17MCET,PTA 19
FIG. SHOWSPUMPING USING GEOTECHNICAL MATERIAL

20.  Pulp at 20% psr is pumped into tubes by pumps.
 Starts with determining which type of geotextile tube
will be used.
 Pore opening and strength of the textile tube are the
parameters to take into consideration.
 Pump and transmission line should be designed after
the selection of the flocculent and geotextile tubes.

21. Fig 4: Disposal Using Geotextile Material

22. METHODS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Tailing dam
 Tailings are usually
produced by w et
processes.
 Hydraulic transportation by
pipeline to the disposal
site.
 Practical application.
 Environmental problems.
 Accidents related to the
waste dam.
 High reclamation cost.
 Climatic conditions.
Tailing disposal using
geotextile materials
 Environmental concerns.
 Reduction of capital costs.
 Climatic conditions not
affected
 High operational cost

23. METHODS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Surface paste
disposal
 Increased security.
 Reduction of the negative
public perception.
 Smaller disposal site (for
the same amount).
 Protection of water
resources (water saving).
 Reduction of soil and
groundwater
contamination.
 Very little leachate water.
 Non-segregation of
particles in pipe line.
 Rapid drainage of
rainwater.
 Paste production may lead
to extra costs.
 Not practical application.

24.  The analysis indicated that the unit costs of the tailing
dam, the surface disposal method, and the geotextile
method were calculated as 2.25 $/ton, 2.29 $/ton, and
7.39 $/ton, respectively.
 The usage life of the methods was considered as 5
years.
 The tailing dam method is simple when compared to
other 2 methods in terms of design and application.
 Surface paste disposal method was given in two
forms with and without cement.

25. Figure 5: Operation and capital costs for the 3 methods

26. Figure 6: Distribution of the capital cost units of the 3 methods

27. Figure 7: Distribution of the operating cost items of the 3 methods

28. Figure 8: unit costs of the 3 method

29.  Surface paste disposal method is more advantages.
 Tailing dams produce many problems in many areas.
 By using the methods can decrease the environmental
problems.
 From cost analysis the surface paste disposal method
is more useful.

30.  3different disposal methods of tailing were compared.
 Surface paste disposal and tailing disposal using
geotextile material have advantages for tailings
management systems .
 lowest operation cost are the tailing dam disposal
method.
 surface paste disposal method is the most appropriate
method for the tailings disposal on surface in
economic terms.

31.  Cetiner, E. G., Unver, B., and Hindistan, M. A. 2006.
“Regulations Related with Mining Wastes: European
Community and Turkey.” Mining 45-1: 23-34.
 Morgenstern, Norbert R. (19–20
September 2001), Geotechnics and Mine Waste
Management – Update (PDF), Swedish Mining
Association, Natur Vards Verket, European
commission retrieved 2014-04-27.
 CPS. 2012. “European Union Guide about Tailings
Management.” A report prepared for Mess: 1-97.

32.  Vogt, C. 2012. “International Assessment of Disposal
of Mine Tailings.
 David Coil, PhD, Direcor1 Elizabeth Lester PhD,
Bretwood “Hig” Higman, PhD, Executive Director3,
Andrew mattox, MBA, Director4.
Contact@groundtruthtrekking.org
 Bowker, L. M., and Chamber, D. M. 2015, The Risk,
Public Liability, & Economics of Tailings Storage
Facilite Failures. Report, July 21, 1-56.

33. THANK YOU