Applying soil mechanics principles to tailings dewatering, densification and strengthening

The recovery of water from tailings is most efficiently achieved in the processing plant, but this must be balanced against the efficient management of tailings disposal. The densification and strengthening of tailings is best achieved by depositing the tailings in thin layers and allowing time for consolidation and desiccation. This can be assisted by amphirolling to drain surface water down the tailings beach and increase the surface area exposed to desiccation, and by subsequent dozing to compact the tailings. The paper describes the application of soil mechanics principles to tailings dewatering to recover process water, densification to minimise the volume required to store the tailings, and strengthening to facilitate upstream raising and eventual capping for rehabilitation purposes. The paper is written in the context of semiarid climates such as exist at many mining operations in Australia