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By D. Malhotra

The number of variables which can effect flotation of molybdenite is very large. This paper discusses the effect of two operating variables, namely, the degree of aeration and agitation, on the grade and recovery of molybdenite. A series of factorially designed flotation tests were carried out in a "Leeds Automatic Laboratory Flotation Cell." The analysis of flotation results indicate that molybdenite can be characterized into fast-floating and slow-floating components. The rates of fast-floating components, which do not create a problem in flotation, could be varied by changing agitation of airflow rates. However, the rate of slow-floating components was stable and was only a function of residence time in the float machine. The degree of aeration has a significant effect on the grade of MoS2 with only a slight effect on the recovery of MoS2. The degree of agitation has a slight effect on the grade, but does not effect the recovery of molybdenite. The implications of the results on the design of flotation cells and control and optimization of the existing circuits is subsequently discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

By M L. Leybourne

In 2012, in response to an increasing potential unfunded liability, the Western Australian Government passed the Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012. The intent of this Act was to introduce an annual levy on tenements covered under the Mining Act 1978 based on the area of disturbed land. The fund generated from these levies could then be used to rehabilitate mining sites where all other options to ensure rehabilitation had been exhausted. The fund could also be used to rehabilitate abandoned sites or features which, in Western Australia, number over 10 000.The Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) was implemented on 1 July 2013 for an initial voluntary year. It becomes compulsory on 1 July 2014. By the end of March 2014, nine months into the voluntary period, over $6.5 million had been paid into the fund. The incentive for tenement holders to voluntarily enter the fund was the opportunity to have unconditional performance bonds held against their tenements retired. While there will be circumstances where bonds will continue to be applied, it is the State Government’s intention to retire most of the bonds.The MRF has received mostly accolades from industry and companies that have entered. Most have found the system easy to use. The MRF was also cited as a reason for Western Australia’s improved position in the Fraser Institute’s annual survey of mining jurisdictions. Work is now starting on processes to select priority abandoned mines for rehabilitation.This paper explains the background to the MRF and its development, and reviews its implementation during the first, voluntary, year. It also discusses how the fund will be managed into the future and what this will mean for both abandoned mine features across Western Australia and any future abandoned mine sites.CITATION:Leybourne, M L, 2014. Ensuring rehabilitation into the future – The Western Australian Mining Rehabilitation Fund, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 441–448 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By S. Banisi, A. R. Hasankhoei, A. R. Ghasemi, E. Razi, G. A. Parsapour

At the pelletizing plant of the Gol-E-Gohar mining and industrial company two parallel dry closed grinding circuits, each with the average throughput of 300 t/h, are used. Each grinding circuit consists of a burner, a dry ball mill (6.2 m×13 m) and an air separator. The ball mill consists of a 2 m-long drying and an 11 m-long grinding chambers. The iron ore concentrate is fed to the drying chamber by a feed chute. The first 1.35 m of the drying chamber consists of 56 flights in two rows to decrease the feed moisture from 5% to below 0.2% and the rest of dryer chamber consists of deflectors to pass the material to the grinding chamber. It was found that when the feed moisture content increased from 1.3% to 3.5%, the throughput decreased by 12% (35 t/h) indicating a low performance of the dryer. Monitoring the wear rate of flights for a period of 12 months showed that the first 0.8 m length of the flights length did not experience any wear. This means that about 59% of flights do not contribute in material distribution and drying. A DEM simulation of feed chute and the drying chamber demonstrated that due to the inappropriate design of feed chute most of materials do not get in touch with the first 0.8 m length of the drying chamber. To overcome this problem, various feed chute designs with different geometries were simulated by the KMPCDEM© software. With the aim of arriving at a proper material trajectory, where the total length of the flights are used, a new feed chute was selected. The simulation results indicated that if the height of the flights is increased from 1.60 to 2.26 m and the slope is increased from 45 to 48 degrees the material arrive at the first 0.48 m of drying chamber. In this manner, the unused part of the drying chamber decreases from 59% to 36% of the length. After installation of the new feed chute, during a period of three months the throughput increased by 36 t/h.

Jan 1, 2018

Mount Isa Mines Limited (MIM) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) have, over the past 15 years, jointly developed the Isasmelt process. This process is based on the use of the Sirosmelt top-entry, submerged combustion lance, developed by the CSIRO in 1973. While the Isasmelt technology was first applied to lead smelting, it has more recently been adapted to smelt copper concentrate. A 15 t/h demonstration Copper Isasmelt plant was commissioned in MIM's Mount Isa copper smelter in April 1987. The success of the Copper Isasmelt demonstration plant, which smelted over 532,000 metric tons of copper concentrate, has led to the construction of two full-scale furnaces: a 104 t/h furnace in the Mount Isa copper smelter, and a 585,000 t/y (650,000 short t/y) furnace at the Cyprus Miami Mining Corporation smelter at Miami, Arizona. The commissioning of these furnaces commenced in August and June 1992, respectively. The MIM Copper Isasmelt furnace will raise the Mount Isa copper smelter's capacity to 265,000 t/y of copper. The plant includes several innovative features, including: Andritz pressure filters, a rotary holding furnace, and an Ahlstrom flux-flow boiler.

Jan 1, 1993

By K. J. Stanaway

Concentrations of minerals between 3.5 and 5 specific gravity such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon in large accumulations of sand constitute "heavy mineral" placers. Two fundamentally different modes of formation characterize "trap" and "bed" placer variants. Smaller and generally higher grade trap placers form during sediment erosion or reworking. Because of their smaller size, they rarely yield economic heavy mineral deposits. They become economic, either if they contain more valuable "heavies" such as gold, or, if they occur within or near much larger but lower grade bed placers. Bed placers form during sediment accumulation episodes in any environment and lithofacies where mineral supply and fluid dynamics are favorable. Three heavy mineral deposits are discussed to illustrate bed placer geology and how trap placers occur with and relate to them.

Jan 1, 1991

By B Saunders, J Carpenter

PanAust’s Phu Kham copper-gold operation (Phu Kham) in Laos is currently limited by throughput in the Semi Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill. The ability to accurately predict SAG mill throughput (throughput) is therefore critical to accurately forecast copper and gold production. During the fourth quarter of 2016 the proportion of hard unweathered rocks in the mill feed increased, resulting in a period of lower than expected throughput. These low throughput rates prompted a study with the aim of identifying a practical solution for throughput predictions. The study identified an empirical modelling approach based on actual SAG mill throughput rates. The empirical model was then optimised by linear programming to identify the ideal feed blend of unweathered rocks to achieve a maximum SAG mill throughput.Rock strength was the initial focus of the throughput study at Phu Kham because previous studies had identified a strong link between rock strength and throughput. It was determined that there was insufficient valid data to adequately model but sufficient data to qualitatively characterise rock strength. The data identified that the weathering and lithology had a controlling influence on the rock strength. Complicating throughput predictions were operational improvements (changes to blasting and mill settings) implemented in response to the lower than expected throughput. This created uncertainty with the throughput equations. A self-learning empirical modelling method was developed to predict the throughput by incorporating fundamental rock properties with operational practices and improvements. The method is based on the proportion of mill feed with similar weathering and lithology (a proxy for comminution performance) and the actual mill throughput using the SAG mill as the analytical instrument. The modelling method simultaneously incorporated the sum and interaction of unmodelled influences including blasting, crushing and mill settings. The empirical modelling method worked at Phu Kham because the lithology and weathering has an intuitive and observable controlling influence on SAG mill throughput. The modelling method is described along with a worked example of feed blend optimisation using linear programming.CITATION:Carpenter, J and Saunders, B, 2017. Empirical mill throughput modelling and linear programming for blend optimisation at the Phu Kham copper-gold operation, Laos, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 291–296 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By C. Heckman, M. S. Moats, A. Luyima, W. Cui

"Nucleation and growth of copper on 316L stainless steel from synthetic acidified copper sulfate was studied in the absence and presence of chloride ions and/or organic additives – HydroStar® 4208, DXG-F7® and Cyquest® N-900 – using a potentiostatic technique. The current–time data obtained at 0.16V versus the SHE were analyzed using nucleation and growth models. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of deposits produced at 300 A/m2 show that the addition of 20 mg/L chloride ions increased the size and reduced the number of copper nuclei. Potentiostatic current–time data from the electrolyte without organic additives, and confirmed by SEM images, indicate progressive nucleation with two-dimensional growth under diffusion control. None of the organic additives studied at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L with 20 mg/L chloride changed the nucleation and growth mechanism, but the additives increased the number and reduced the size of copper nuclei, leading to more uniform coverage of the stainless steel substrate.IntroductionElectrowinning of copper is an important process in the manufacture of high-purity copper metal. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s refined copper is produced from acidified copper sulfate solutions by electrowinning (Schlesinger, Sole and Davenport, 2011). In many plants, copper is electrodeposited on AISI 316L stainless steel substrates for a period of 6-7 days, after which the copper is stripped from the blanks. Even though the deposition time for a commercial copper electrowinning circuit is around one week, it is critically important to control the nucleation, growth and nature of the initial deposit (Sun and O’Keefe, 1992).Deposit morphology and structure are influenced by the real current density at the electrode surface. The real current density across the cathode surface is made uniform by proper design of the electrowinning cell and electrodes and careful operational practice. Even with good design and control, some current maldistribution occurs. The outcome of severe current maldistribution is poor deposits that affect product quality and/or increase energy consumption. To combat current maldistribution and create a larger operating window in terms of current density, temperature and copper concentration, small amounts of organic smoothing agents – traditionally, guar products – are added to copper electrowinning electrolytes. Moreover, these additives inhibit the growth of copper nodules and lead to improved deposit quality by producing bright, smooth and dense cathodes.Recently, the use of polysaccharides, such as HydroStar 4208 and DXG-F7, and polyacrylamides, such as Cyquest N-900, has been reported in commercial electrowinning tankhouses as replacements for guar (Ashford, Clayton and Sandoval, 2012; Robinson et al., 2013; Sandoval, Morales and Bernu, 2010). However, little information has been published on the effect of these new organic additives, especially regarding the nucleation and growth mechanisms of copper electrodeposits in their presence."

Jan 1, 2016

By C. C. Stevenson, Thomas Varley

"The art of treating ores by the chloride volatilization process is still in the experimental stage. The process has not been sufficiently developed along chemical and metallurgical lines to state definitely just what place it will occupy in the metallurgical industry. The theory upon which the process operates has received the attention of prominent metallurgists for the past twenty years, and research and experimental work has been conducted by many investigators.Much of the experimental work done has never been published, and it seems that the accumulation of such results if made known would be an important aid to the further development of the process. The object of this paper is, therefore, to bring salient features of the process to the attention of the metallurgical industry, both for the purpose of furnishing information, and receiving from interested parties any comments which the reading of this article may suggest. A bulletin covering the work done at the Intermountain experiment station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, situated at Salt Lake City, Utah, is in course of preparation.The chloridizing roast is usually accompanied by appreciable losses due, to the volatilization of the metals as chlorides during the roast, these losses often running as high as 30 per cent, depending upon the temperature, the character of the ores and the associated gangue material. It was not until 1891 that Croasdale, (Croasdale, Stuart, Engineering and Mining Journal, Aug. 29 1903) by observing this and stack deposits from the chloridizing roast, recognized the possibility of making volatilization a major instead of a minor feature of the roast. He then made tests on a large number of tires from different, localities, the result of which showed the, general application of the process. The main difficulty, as stated, by Croasdale, was the lack of a suitable means for recovering the fume from the furnace gasesIn 1913, Cottrell (See Mining and Scientific Press, March 29, 1913; alsoTrans. American Institute of Mining Engineering, September 1918. (Additional informa-tion is available from the owners, The Research Corporation of New lark, and Western Precipitation Co., .Los Angeles, Calif.), announced his invention of the electrostatic precipitator, which solved the problem of separating the solids from the furnace gases."

May 1, 1921

In a previous study, various pyrite depressants were examined to improve the flotation performance of a copper-sulfide ore. Optimal results from this study were used to examine the effect of elevation on recovery and grade. Tests were conducted at elevations of 3350, 1735, 610 and -760 metres, consisted of five repetitive experiments for statistical analysis, and were performed both with and without airflow control. Tests were also performed in a glove box at Montana Tech to mimic the pressure conditions. Results indicate that both recovery and grade are dependent on pressure via bubble size and airflow suggesting that pressurised flotation cells should be considered for operations, particularly those at high elevation. Economics are extremely favourable for implementation because ensuing capital expenses are inconsequential with minimal time for return-on-investment.

Jan 1, 2005

Two key elements in the design of a pastefill or high density backfill system are the preparation of the backfill material and its distribution underground. This paper examines these two areas. Owing to the essentially impervious nature of total mill tailings, preparation of pastefill and high density fill from current tailings involves a physical dewatering process. There are currently three methods available for this process: Vacuum or pressure filters. These represent the ætraditionalÆ approach to the preparation of pastefill. Paste production storage mechanism. This is a thickening/storage mechanism developed with the specific objective of producingpaste/high density backfills. Fluidization. This system utilises silos fitted with simple dewatering devices and nozzles. Recently developed by CANMET, it provides the simplest and most economical approach.This paper describes and compares the three preparation methods, from a practical and an economic point of view. Once the pastefill/high density fill has been prepared and binder added, the backfill must be distributed underground into the stopes. A fundamental factor in the design of a distribution system is the rheology of the material. No two materials will exhibit the same properties, and a sequence of rheological and related testing is required prior to the completion of the design of the underground distribution system. This paper covers the testwork normally required and discusses the fundamental design parameters of pastefill distribution systems. The final section of this paper summarises the use of pastefill at three mines in Canada.

Jan 1, 1998

By J. Jirestig

Poor grade iron ore, suffering from interlocked particles, is challenging for any process technology. Extensive grinding is required to attain liberation and to yield concentrates of desired grade. Fine particles are commonly very difficult to retrieve, resulting in value losses to tailings. In this paper, results from HGMS tests on fine to ultra fine hematite are reported. Special emphasis is put on slurry flow velocity. If hydrodynamic drag force, i.e. flow velocity is not controlled and kept constant during the feed and/or rinse phase, fine particles will not be captured and retained. Flow velocity control and constant flow during separation are achieved by discharge valves/slots and parallel magnetic flux and pulp flow configuration. In tests, increased slurry velocity from 178 to 268mm/s caused Fe-recovery to drop from 78 to 48%. Proving that flow velocity control is essential to optimise grade and recovery. HGMS tests at the Metso mineral laboratory on natural (weathered) hematite fines clearly show a large potential to recover valuables, currently lost to tailings. Even at particle size distributions as low as D80=35µm concentrate grades and recovery are very satisfying. Two samples, in-plant desliming rejects (D80=35µm and 50µm) where significantly upgraded and recovered, from 45,3% to 63,6% and 53,0% to 63,4% Fe, at 73,8% and 81,1% Fe-recovery respectively. Other types of in plant rejects, such as gravity separation or WHIMS tailings, also benefits from HGMS separation. Gravity separation reject, 55,8% Fe, at D80=500µm was tested, yielding a magnetic concentrate of 60,8% Fe at 50,7% Fe-recovery. The results indicated that the hematite was poorly liberated. HGMS separation was repeated after a regrind to D80 150µm, resulting in a magnetic concentrate of 62,8% Fe at 75,9% Fe-recovery. The tests prove that hematite, presently lost to tailings streams, can be recovered by HGMS and thereby significantly contribute to improved overall economy. Keywords: HGMS, magnetic separation, recovery of ultra-fine hematite, Indian hematite ores, hematite recovery from tailings

Sep 1, 2012

The paper describes data from test work programs on a range of magnetite ores in Australia and overseas. The analysis looks at the behaviour of material of different sizes fed to the rolls and the change in product size as a result of that, the conclusion being that there is a logarithmic relationship. The paper develops a form of equation to predict the product size from a given feed size distribution. The behaviour of the various magnetite ores is compared to more standard test methods such as crushing work index and unconfined compressive strength.

Jan 1, 2009

By D Price

Mining at the Tuckabianna Mining Centre in the Murchison district of Western Australia ceased in 1997, after the production of 550 000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 2.5 g/t from 22 separate open pits (Tectonic Resources, 2006). Like many historic mining camps in WA, Tuckabianna was considered exhausted of gold, such that an economic project could not be sustained on the existing resources. Since 1997, three separate companies have owned the Tuckabianna leases. Each of these companies completed minor exploration and some form of mining study to determine if mining could be sustained. All three companies concluded that the remaining resources were insufficient to support an economic project. Silver Lake Resources acquired the adjacent Tuckabianna, Comet and Moyagee projects in 2007 with a combined resource base of 693 000 ounces of gold in 11 separate deposits. In September 2009, Silver Lake commenced exploration in the Murchison targeting extensions to the main resources at the three project centres and completing targeted regional exploration across the lease holding. At the same time, a detailed evaluation of all historic drill data was completed and all resources re-estimated. This has culminated in the resource base increasing to 1.5 million ounces of gold in 20 separate deposits, with two new discoveries being made. In August 2010, a mining feasibility study was commissioned. Preliminary results from the study indicate that an economic stand alone project can be sustained for a minimum of five years. The ability to bring the remaining resource from a once unloved project into production is due to a number of factors: historically high gold price, combining adjacent projects into a single operation, evaluation of all resources regardless of size and grade, and well funded exploration directed to both resource extensions and new discoveries. Using the Tuckabianna Project as an example, this paper attempts to outline the strategy Silver Lake used to define the resources to justify the capital expenditure required for production, and give a summary of some of the successes and failures made as the projects progress towards mining. Examples of where being too rigid and over exuberant have resulted in less than optimal use of expenditure are used to high-light the difficulties in exploring in mature terrains. Evaluation of the success of a company’s exploration strategy at all scales from project acquisition to target selection is critical to the success of future project development. This paper has been part of that process for Silver Lake with some interesting discussions and insights being made. It is hoped that some of the points discussed can be applied to other projects to help achieve the best outcome from the assets available to a company.

Aug 22, 2011

By J. Coffin, M. Muinonen, D. Fragomeni, R. Multani, C. Deredin

"Rejection of pyrrhotite from pentlandite is of critical importance to the economics of nickel concentrate production and the main goal of the Strathcona milling operations. A joint team of XPS, Glencore Technology and Strathcona Mill personnel executed a comprehensive program of work to develop and implement strategies for increased Po rejection with focus on challenging ores containing high feed Po/Pn ratios (> 7) and significant hexagonal Po content (> 40% of total Po). This paper describes the team results including minerology, bench-scale flotation tests, and plant validation tests and modeling that have defined the path forward to improving the metallurgical performance and economics of the mill operation. Techniques to quantify hexagonal and monoclinic pyrrhotites were developed at XPS to assess the differences in their metallurgical behavior since their flotation responses are quite different. Mineralogical tools including QEMScan were extensively used to determine mineral liberation, associations, optimum grind size, and nickel deportment into pentlandite, pyrrhotite and non-sulphide gangue. Several reagents/strategies were evaluated during bench-scale flotation testing to significantly increase Po rejection. A significant shift in the Po-Pn selectivity and grade recovery curves was achieved using several strategies including the use of DETA and sodium metabisulfite, and regrind of the rougher concentrate and rougher cleaner/rougher tails.INTRODUCTION The Strathcona Mill is owned and operated by Glencore Nickel – Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations and has been processing Ni-Cu ores from the Sudbury Basin since 1968 (valuable sulphides: pentlandite (Pn) – (Ni,Fe)9S8 and chalcopyrite (Cp) – CuFeS2). Currently Strathcona Mill receives ore mined from two main sources in the Sudbury area and produces two concentrate streams – a nickel-copper concentrate that is shipped to the Sudbury Smelter and a copper concentrate that is sent to the Fonderie Horne (Glencore Copper, Rouyn-Noranda). The general flowsheet currently used at Strathcona is displayed in Figure 1. It is highlighted by separate feed circuits for regular grade Ni ores and high grade copper ores. The copper circuit has a preflotation stage prior to a rougher-scavenger stage, a copper-nickel separation circuit, and a pyrrhotite (Po) rejection circuit."

Jan 1, 2018

By Lewis M. McNay

Description of methods employed and cost data are given for surface-mined land reclamation in Moraine State Park, Butler County, Pa. This project was conducted under the authority of the Appalachian Regional Development Act; a total of 177 acres of land was rehabilitated for specific land use purposes. The use of large equipment expedited the project work, and similar results could be anticipated on similar reclamation programs.

Jan 1, 1970

By Braden Lusk

Vibrations as a result of blasting practices in mining engineering are a complex phenomenon controlled by many variables. Mine blast vibration modeling and prediction is becoming more important as a consequence of interactions by mining activity with an ever closer public. Many communities (all over the world) close to mining activity often complain about airblast and vibrations produced from blasting activity. It is important for the mining industry to have tools and understandable methodologies to model and predict blast vibration. These tools can then be used to predict and control vibration at neighboring structures.

Jan 1, 2013

By S H. Burgmans, B Anderson

This paper aims to define the specific challenges relating to dredging fine tailings from an above ground storage facility for transferral to a mined-out pit. In addition, it compares dredging and mining perspectives on dredging of fine tailings.

Jul 1, 2021

The plant, animal, and mineral arts and sciences are interrelated, interdependent, equally distinctive subject-matter fields. The artificial, erroneous, and popular idea that minerals occur in great storehouses in nature's treasure room to be removed at will at fabulous profits is about as correct as the assumption that the farmer's life is one of ease in which the crops spring miraculously from the ground. However, both of these fundament-a1 industries, mining and agriculture, have much in common. The extraction of minerals from the ground and the extraction of plants from the soil for immediate use, or conversion to meat, are fundamental activities and subject to many common economic laws. In other words, in many important basic concepts there is little difference between surface and subsurface crops. The farmer owner working the surface of the earth and the owner of a fraction of the oil or coal rights in the subsurface, from which a small yearly income is derived, are interested in the best management of the land for the mutual benefit of all concerned. Therefore, it is essential that in any planning or political action intended to create a new scheme of things, it should be remembered that one plan must fit all sources of primary wealth, whether coal or wheat, petroleum or milk, iron ore or beef.1 And what basic economic difference is there in the processing of a gallon of petroleum and a bushel of corn?

Jan 1, 1950

By Margaret E. Egan

Reliable fire detection is essential for both safe evacuation and containment or extinguishment. In order to increase reliability by reducing the number of nuisance fire alarms in underground mines that use diesel-powered equipment, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed a diesel-discriminating fire detector (DDD). It was designed to discriminate between smoke produced by a fire and the smoke-laden exhaust of a diesel engine. Experiments were conducted by the Bureau to compare the smoke detection capabilities of the DDD with those of conventional fire detectors in response to smoldering coal and conveyor belting. A comparison was made among the alarm times of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector with an alarm threshold of 5 ppm, a smoke detector with an optical density alarm threshold of 0.044 of', and the DDD with an alarm threshold of 0.025 V. The results show that the DDD will reliably detect developing coal and conveyor belt fires. The average time delay separating the DDD alarm from the first detector to alarm was 76 s for smoldering conveyor belt and 65 s for smoldering coal. The longest time delay between the response of the DDD and the first detector to alarm was approximately 120 s.

Jan 1, 1993

By R Barritt, P Scott

Across the globe, it is a common scenario that tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are being decommissioned; however, their subsequent impact on the local environment and landscape can often be overlooked during the mine planning process. In addition, the requirement of a cover system for a facilities closure may not be a priority until the latter stages of the mine/mill operation when potential cover materials may have been utilised elsewhere or, worse, buried. Developing a conceptual design and closure plan for a TSF early in a mining venture is fundamental to its success once operations have ceased. If a cover system is a planned component for rehabilitation of a TSF, it is vital that its design is appropriate to the facility and any local site constraints, such as climate and cover system material availability. It is also strongly recommended that various cover system options are physically trialled at the site by using performance-monitoring instrumentation. Through this process, an informed decision can be made regarding the most appropriate cover system design to meet any regulatory and stakeholder closure objectives and criteria specific to the site in question; however, in order for the cover system’s performance to be determined through on-site trials, it is essential that an appropriate instrumentation design is utilised. Often, little attention is paid to the data that is being obtained, and its importance may only become apparent after several years of monitoring at an expense to the venture. This should not be the case. Many sites have used an appropriate initial planning stage to understand what is required for the successful closure of a TSF, how it can be achieved and how monitoring data can be utilised to prove, or otherwise, that a cover system design will be a success.CITATION:Barritt, R and Scott, P, 2015. Cover system performance monitoring for tailings – are we doing it correctly?, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 283–288 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015