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By J. A. McLennan

Geological uncertainty is an unavoidable characteristic of all mining projects since only limited information is available from sampling. Mine planning and development decisions with significant economic consequences are made when the geological heterogeneity is inherently uncertain. Geostatistical simulation is preferred over kriging because the methodology provides alternative property realizations that can be combined into a model of geological uncertainty. Geological uncertainty can be transferred into production uncertainty, which can help characterize the economic risk of the project. This paper presents a case study for the Pogo property, being prepared for development near Fairbanks, Alaska. The exact dimensions, grades and production predictions have been modified; however, the methodology is illustrative. The geostatistical methodology consists of (1) assembling the relevant drillhole data and establishing a suitable coordinate system, (2) calculating the target distribution, (3) creating a model of spatial correlation, (4) generating multiple realizations at a small scale and (5) linearly averaging all the realizations to the chosen selective mining unit (SMU) support size. The geostatistical model is then used to calculate production uncertainty.

May 1, 2004

OZ Minerals Limited owns and operates the Prominent Hill Copper-Gold Mine, located 140 km southeast of Coober Pedy in far north South Australia. The Prominent Hill mine comprises an open cut mine with an initial 10 year mine-life and an 8 Mtpa conventional grinding and flotation plant to produce high quality copper-gold-silver concentrates, which are exported by road to local customers and by rail to the port of Darwin for shipment on to Southeast Asian smelters. Mine and process operations at Prominent Hill are licensed to abstract a water supply of up to 26 ML/d, sourced from a borefield located 40 km and extending to 80 km east of the mine. The arid climate of the broader Prominent Hill region means that groundwater is important for sustaining community and pastoral industries in the region, and security of water rights for third party users is a critically important water management issue posing a significant challenge to the development of Prominent Hill. Depth to water table and the typically high salinity of groundwater in the region means there is little environmental dependence on groundwater within the immediate Project area (mine lease and wellfields). The Prominent Hill mine and associated infrastructure lies within the South Australian Far North Prescribed Wells Area (FNPWA), which was principally defined to ensure the ongoing security of the ecologically, socially and culturally significant GAB springs, of which the closest are found around 150 km northeast of Prominent Hill, and only 50 km northeast of the water supply borefield. Prescribing of the FNPWA meant that OZ Minerals was required to demonstrate to both State and Federal Government agencies that the mine's water supply is independent of that which supports GAB springs and other third party water users in the region. Recognising these potential obstacles, OZ Minerals successfully defined and developed a previously unknown industrial quality groundwater resource, separate from other important groundwater resources in the region that supply community, pastoral and environmental users, ensuring third party water user sustainability.

Jun 1, 2010

By M. C. Mound, E. Gallestey, C. Colbert

Continuous operating performance and high profit is one of the major concerns in the mining industry. Information systems are expected to reinforce and enable conformance to these requirements. The companion efforts of business management and production information systems press for tighter integration to avoid over-laps, multiple instances of similar data, and expensive maintenance of databases. Implementation of advanced intelligent systems throughout a mine operation can reduce costs, optimize investment and create a shorter payback via conversion of the data accumulated by field and process devices into information, and subsequently, into decisions. However, in order to harness the potential power inherent in these intelligent devices, adequate and flexible modular knowledge-based solutions are required. Fortunately, there has been at least one such practical response to this challenge, namely the ABB IndustrialIT portfolio. With these tools in place, production efficiency is reached via integration of process, production, and quality information. Moreover, they permit immediate detection and remedial action to changes to process and boundary condition variables. Finally, using advanced optimization techniques supported by dedicated mathematical models, they allow for economic process optimization (process set points and coordination thereof, energy management, production planning, energy supply contract optimization, etc) of the plant as a whole.

Jan 1, 2004

By Bruno Bussière

Le drainage minier acide (DMA) provenant de la circulation des eaux à travers les rejets miniers sulfureux est sans doute le principal problème environnemental auquel est confrontée l?industrie minière. Afin de prévenir les problèmes environnementaux reliés au DMA, on doit restreindre la présence de l?une et/ou de l?autre des principales composantes menant à la production d?acide, soit l?eau, l?air et les sulfures. Pour ce faire, différentes techniques ont été proposées au cours des dernières années, dont la désulfuration environnementale et les couvertures avec effets de barrière capillaire (CEBC). Dans ce papier, on propose d?utiliser ces deux techniques en combinaison. Ainsi, on produirait un rejet désulfuré à l?usine de traitement qui pourrait, par la suite, être utilisé comme matériau pour la couche de rétention d?eau de la CEBC. Dans un premier temps, on présente les résultats d?une étude de laboratoire qui montre qu?il est possible de désulfurer les rejets de concentrateur à l?aide de la flottation non sélective jusqu?à l?obtention d?un résidu non générateur d?acide. Par la suite, des essais en colonne ont permis de démontrer qu?il est possible de limiter la production de DMA d?un résidu sulfureux à l?aide d?une CEBC dont la couche fine est constituée de résidus désulfurés. Des prédictions théoriques estiment même que la présence de sulfures résiduels dans la fraction désulfurée utilisée comme matériau pour la rétention d?eau peut avoir un effet bénéfique en réduisant la migration d?oxygène. En effet, les sulfures contenus dans la couche de rétention d?eau peuvent consommer l?oxygène qui tente de migrer vers le bas et, ainsi, réduire les flux d?oxygène qui atteignent les rejets réactifs.

Nov 1, 2002

By Petersen Ulrich

El objetivo del texto es señalar la eficiencia de la cuantificación de los cambios químicos que constituyen el zoneamiento en el yacimiento minero de Julcani, donde la roca encajonante es poco reactiva, para así eliminar los efectos químicos correspondientes. Los cocientes metálicos son un método para revelar el zoneamiento, así como las zonas de oxidación y enriquecimiento secundario dentro de una zona minera. Asimismo, pueden indicar la importancia relativa de una estructura y ser útiles en guiar la exploración y el desarrollo del yacimiento.

Nov 20, 1969

By K. Meyer

"INTRODUCTIONThe David Bell Mine Concentrator started production in April 1985. A staff of twenty-seven people operate and maintain the concentrator. The crew is grouped into the following main areas.16 Operators6 Assaying/Metallurgy/Refining/Clerical4 Maintenance people2 SupervisionOperating highlights of the following unit processes will be discussed in detail:Screening and ThickeningPre-aeration and CyanidationCarbon-In-Pulp Gold AdsorptionCarbon Handling andGold RecoveryFor a complete description of the concentrator, refer to the papers by: (1) C.V. Sibbald, Teck-Corona's Hemlo Mill, October 1984, (2) R.A. Ford, The David Bell Mine at Hemlo, From Exploration to Production, November 1987. For operating details of the grinding circuit and effluent treatment plant refer to papers by: (3) T.G. Smith, SAG Mill Experience at The David Bell Mine, October 1988, ( 4) AN. Veltmeyer, The Effluent Treatment Plant of The David Bell Mine, January 1989.TRASH AND CARBON SCREENSTrash ScreenThe vibrating trash screen is inclined at 5 degrees and is clad with a 28 mesh stainless steel cloth which is changed monthly during the SAG mill liner replacement/inspection shut down. Other screen openings and configurations have been tried and the screen has been by-passed to change the cloth ""on the fly"". These attempts resulted in fibres (usually wood) to report to #1 Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) tank, where the fibres are trapped in the CIP launder screens, and downstream carbon handling screens causing serious blinding problems. The trash screen in a Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) or Carbon-In-Leach (CIL) gold mill removes fibres before they:are reground in the ball millsaturate with gold bearing leach solutionplug launder screens in CIP or CIL tanksplug carbon circuit pipe screenstherefore the trash screen is best placed ahead of the thickener."

Jan 1, 1989

By H. J. Kelly

[This investigation of the refractory properties of seven Pacific Northwest chrome ores and concentrates has shown that five of the ores and one of the concentrates are suitable for making refractories and that all may be used in combination with high-grade chromite. The specific objectives of the investigation were to determine the inherent physic al and chemical characteristics, to shapes using each of the chrome ores and concentrates, to compare the refractory qualities of the laboratory-prepared with commercial chrome refractories. As far as possible, standard tests were used as criteria.]

Jan 1, 1952

By A. W. Dougall, T. M. Mmola

"SynopsisThe global resources and commodities market has become highly competitive. While southern Africa’s abundance of minerals resources is still unrivalled, it has lost considerable dominance in terms of production output. The sustainability of southern Africa’s mining industry is increasingly becoming dependent on its ability to manage the performance of its operations well. A valuable tool for monitoring and managing performance is the use of key performance areas (KPAs) – which are those areas of performance that are reflected explicitly or implicitly in the vision and strategies of an organization and reflect the critical success factors of the organization. This paper is a review of key performance areas in the southern African mining delivery environment. The KPAs discussed in this paper have been identified by comparing KPAs of the several mining houses engaged in surface mining operations in southern Africa and then extracting those KPAs that are common to most of them. Although the authors support the view that each organization should develop KPAs to specifically fit its needs, the study reveals that five KPAs – safety and health, costs, product quality, fleet management, and delivery should form a default list that covers the key areas that any organization should consider when choosing KPAs. KPIs are those subsets of KPAs that we measure in order to manage KPAs.IntroductionThe global resources and commodities market has become highly competitive. While southern Africa’s abundance of minerals resources is still unrivalled, it has lost considerable dominance in terms of production output. The sustainability of southern Africa’s mining industry is increasingly becoming dependent on its ability to manage the performance of its operations well. A valuable tool for monitoring and managing performance is the use of key performance areas (KPAs), which are ‘those areas of performance that are reflected explicitly or implicitly in the vision and strategies of the organization’ (Barker, 1997). The terms KPA and KPI (key performance indicator) are often used interchangeably – whether correctly or erroneously is debatable. KPIs are ‘quantifiable measurements, agreed to beforehand, that reflect the critical success factors of an organization’ (O’Neill, 2007). Each KPA probably has multiple KPIs associated with it."

Jan 1, 2015

By Yaw Boadi, Andrew McCallum, Sandy Gray, Yavuz Atasoy, Peter Wemyss

"Various full-scale test programs and installations of the InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ) have provided evidence that pre-concentration of the difficult to leach sulphide mineral through gravity can provide significant increases in economic recoveries. The continuous gravity concentrates are intensively treated either by re-grinding or Intensive Cyanidation. Data from various mine sites worldwide is presented. Treatment of complex ore bodies with this low cost methodology may render previously uneconomic ore bodies financially viable and assist in the recovery profile of transitional ore.INTRODUCTIONThe use of gravity is made extremely attractive in complex ore situations due to the low cost of operation, typically a few cents per ton operating cost and lack of chemicals.Gold mines which suffer from poor recovery due to complex mineralogy such as Stibnite, Arsenic, Carbon, Telluride, Silver and other pacifying agents such as Iron, which can form coatings, can all benefit from the process proposed in this paper. The key issue is not overall recovery as much as one of economic recovery. The key to this is maximised recovery at the lowest possible capital and operating cost. Other options such as flotation are reviewed but are not seen in many instances to be the panacea due to issues discussed in the paper. The use of the InLine Pressure Jig in the re-circulating load of the milling circuit is a cost effective means of recovering a sulphide/gold concentrate containing the complex mineral assemblages which require re-grinding and intensive leaching for optimised gold recovery.The benefits of Jig Assisted Grinding (JAG) are many and the challenge over the past years has been developing, understanding, implementing and evaluating the benefits of various flowsheet models. This has involved the reconciliation of results in plant scale trials back to the original laboratory test program. The following paper outlines the insights gained in this area through extensive work carried out by many people across both laboratories and plant sites in Australia and overseas. The examples in this paper are some of the work carried out on a few selected sites but similar work has been carried out on other sites such as Penjom, Granny Smith and Agnew. This work has eventuated in several installations which we believe have great importance in the future of the gold processing industry. They will lead the way forward to the modern all-gravity plants of the future.Compared to flotation, for the recovery of sulphides, gravity is a simple option. The simplicity generally translates to low capital and operating cost."

Jan 1, 2004

By Tuck M. A

The increasing depth, mechanisation and distance of working areas from surface connections places an ever greater contaminant burden on ventilation airflows. Some British Coal mines are already experiencing significant problems in providing adequate climatic conditions in the working areas and have had to introduce air conditioning. Previous work has shown that in mines of low to moderate virgin strata temperature the application of controlled district recirculation could serve to improve climatic conditions at the working area.

Jan 1, 1988

By H. Agnerian

"A survey of 925 mineral property transactions worldwide was carried out between 1987 and 2004. These mineral properties with reported Mineral Resources include 457 gold properties, 322 base metal properties, and five platinum group element (PGE) properties. Based on constant Canadian dollars, the results of the survey indicate that:• In general, unit metal values in the ground (e.g. $/oz Au or $/lb Cu) have kept pace with the changes in the respective metal prices during the period of the survey.• A general decrease in unit gold values in the ground has occurred from about $57/oz Au in 1987 to about $11/oz Au in 2002 for Canadian mineral properties, with the exception of a peak of $58/oz Au in 1996.• A similar trend for mineral properties has occurred in the United States, but with lower unit values, in the range from $1/oz Au to $10/oz Au during the last three years of the survey. • Unit metal values in the ground for gold properties in Canada were higher than for those in the rest of the world.• Unit metal values in the ground for copper properties in Canada were in the mid-range compared with other countries in the rest of the world; the United States and Australia were higher and Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe were lower than in Canada.• Unit metal values in the ground for zinc properties in Canada were also in the mid-range compared with other countries in the rest of the world; Latin America and Europe were higher and the United States, Australia, and Asia were lower than in Canada.• Unit metal values for nickel properties in Canada were highest compared with other countries in the rest of the world, followed by the United States, Australia, Africa, and Asia.• Gold values in the ground in Canada have ranged from 6% to 14% (with an average of approximately 10%) of the gold price.• The unit values of base metals in the ground have been in the order of 2% of the quoted metal price, during the period of the survey."

Jan 1, 2006

The following paper describes the refining practice for the production of lead, silver and gold at the works of The Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty. Ltd., Port Pirie, South Australia.The refinery is situated on the wharf frontage and is built parallel with it. The refinery occupies an area of approximately 3380 square yards. (Fig. 8)There are two buildings, one containing the softening and de-silverising sections, measuring 225 ft. x 57t ft., while the other building, which measures 225 ft. x 90 ft. covers the de-zincing, lead moulding, retorting, cupellation, and dore parting sections. (Fig. 1)The retorting, cupellation, and dore parting sections are completely isolated from the rest of the plant by strong small-mesh wire gratings welded to steel uprights. The dore parting plant and generator room are further isolated by a brick wall, built up to the roof. The two main buildings are steel structures, with outer walls and roof of "Robertson" corrugated sheeting; the side and end walls are open for some distance above the ground, and this, coupled with the high roof which is 50 ft. from ground level, ensures the free access of air and light. Conditions are such that operators work in a clear atmosphere.

Jan 1, 1937

The design, specification, and performance evaluation of the Communications and Location portions of a Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System are described. The work was performed as part of a nine month effort to develop a mine rescue and survival system using existing technology and state -of-the -art hardware as recommended by the National Academy of Engineering. Three basic subsystems were developed, one for survival, one for communications/location and one for rescue. This report and related equipment manuals describe only the Communications/ Location Subsystem which was designed, fabricated, and tested by the Westinghouse Georesearch Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. Two basic technologies were used. Electromagnetic signals propagating through-the-earth provide voice downlink and coded beacon up-link communications. Seismic methods were developed to provide means for locating trapped miners. Seismic signalling also provides a backup means for communications. Parallel development programs for the electromagnetic and seismic portions of the system were conducted. The resulting hardware and software have been partially tested in coal mines and under simulated emergency conditions in order to evaluate system performance. The results of these tests are discussed. Further testing is recommended in order to establish quantitative performance limitations tinder a variety of environmental conditions and to develop methods for improving system performance.

Jan 1, 1971

By M. M. Rajkovich

Just prior to the close of the century, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission issued its long-awaited decision in Berwind Natural Resources, et al v. Secretary of Labor, to usher in the new millennium. The case arose as a result of a mine explosion in Eastern Kentucky resulting in MSHA’s issuance of 225 citations, not only to the contractor, but to four affiliated entities of Berwind Corporation. While an Administrative Law Judge dismissed those citations as to three of the Berwind entities, both MSHA and the remaining Berwind entity appealed the case to the Commission. Although the Commission effectively left intact the Administrative Law Judge’s decision, it announced a new theory of liability that would apparently be applied in the future, namely the Unitary Operator Theory. This presentation will provide an in-depth look into the Berwind decision and explore the means under which MSHA might impose liability for contractor violations upon other entities in the future.

Jan 1, 2001

Shortly after Denny, Robson, and Irwin published their first paper in 1937, on the prevention of silicosis by metallic aluminium, experiments were begun on the practical application of the discovery.It was thought at that time that aluminium powder, to be effective in aluminium therapy, would have to be intimately admixed with siliceous dust at the latter's source. There followed several years of experimental work underground, during which the application of aluminium powder was tested in:(1) Speakers on machine columns, vibrated by drills.(2) Vials placed in drill holes to be blasted.(3) Both homogeneous and heterogeneous mixture with explosives.(4) Packages with tamping.(5) Compressed-air lines.(6) Special compressed-air ejectors for use while drilling and after blasting.(7) The discharge of ventilation fans.(8) The filters of respirators.It was concluded from this research that any adequate method of introducing aluminium powder into a mine atmosphere would require too much extra gear, supervision, and aluminium p;wder, and would interfere unduly with underground routine.Later, animal experiments by Denny, Robson, and Irwin2 showed that aluminium powder provided effective therapy when inhaled independent of silica dust. Therefore, some means of surface treatment was deemed more practical.APPARATUS USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALUMINIUM PROPHYLAXIS SAMPLINGA basic requirement was a method of sampling to assess accurately the particle-size concentrations of dispersed aluminium powder. Konimetry, though regularly practised at McIrityre, was inadequate for the research in mind. On the other hand, the efficiency of the thermal precipitator was recognized as being very high. Accordingly, the latter instrument was chosen as best suited to our needs. Through the courtesy of the Ontario...

Jan 1, 1945

By Lawrence S. Darken

STAFF: Editor, Gerhord Derge Cornegie Institute of Technology Schenley Pork Pittsburgh 13, Pa. Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmerski Production Editor, Otto T. Johnson THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: J. S. Smart, Jr., President; C. C. Long, Past-President; K. L. Fetters, Vice President; T. D. Jones, Treasurer; R. W. Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: C. L. McCabe, Chairman; H. L. Bishop, K. L. Fetters, J. J. Harwood, W. A. Krivsky, F. C. Longenberg, R. E. Lund, W. 0. Philbrook, L. L. Seigle, R. L. Smith, and F. L. Vogal. Review and selection of manuscripts is under the supervision of the following Publications Committees: Extractive Metallurgy Division: C. L. McCabe, Chairman; R. E. Lund, Vice-chairman; D. H. Baker, Jr., W. A. Krivsky, R. A. Lewis, Paul Qusneau, A. S. Russell, R, E. Shinkoskey, W. W. Stephens, and M. E. Wadsworth. Institute of Metals Division: L. L.Seigle, Chair-man, P. A. Back, J. J. Backer, l.l. Bessen, J. 0. Betterton, Jr., J. 8. Clark, R. S. Davis, A. E. Dwight, R. W. Fountain, R. B. Gordon, C. D. Graham, Jr., R. W. Guard, J. C. Gurland, E. L. Harmon, J. J. Hager, A. A. Hendrickson, M. Harmon, J. N. Hobstatter, H. H. Johnson, Jr., H. 5. Kolish, R. R. Nash, T. N. Rhodin, R. H. Richman, W. Rostokar, P. G. Shawmon, C. W. Spencer, L. Slifkin, J. K. Stanley, C. D. Starr, R. Steinitz, and H. C. Stumpf. Iron and Steel Division: H. L. Bishop, Chairman; 2. E. Boni, F. C. Langenberg, J. B. Wagstaff, and T. V. Wainwright. Published bimonthly by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 29 West 39th Street, New York 18, N. Y. Telephone: PEnnsylvania 6-9220. Subscription PetroleumEngineers,$30 per year for non-AIME members in United States and North, South, and Central America; 332, foreign; $5 for AlME members. Single copies, $4.00, single copies foreign, $5.00. The AlME is not responsible for any statement mode or opinion expressed in its publications . . . Copyright 1%1 by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. . . . Registered cable address; AIME New York ..Indexed in Engineering Index, Industrial Arts Index, and Chemical Abstracts.. .Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y., and Ann Arbor, Mich. Volume 221, Number 4.

Jan 1, 1962

By P D. "Takis" Katsabanis

The phenomenon of sympathetic detonations in blastholes is investigated by comparing experimental observations and numerical modelling results. Numerical modelling using the TDL computer code and Forest Fire decomposition rates for commercial explosives has shown the importance of blasthole diameter, impedance of the stemming and host rock. Comparison with experimental observations has also shown that sympathetic detonations cannot always be treated as shock to detonation transition. Examination of previous results which have been obtained from calibrated low amplitude shock experiments reveal that there is an ignition threshold prior to the detonation threshold. The difference between the two thresholds is more pronounced in the case of air bubble sensitized products. The ignition threshold can be very important under the confinement provided by the blasthole and the conditions of application. It also correlates well with the pressures expected at the gap distances of interest in the practical application. It is suggested that critical energies are used as the criterion for cross initiation in blastholes. Practical suggestions based on the numerical calculations and experiments based on these calculations are also given and discussed.

Jan 1, 1991

By M. A. Elliott

Diesel-powered haulage equipment has recently been tested and approved for permissibility by the Bureau of Mines for use in mining in the United States. Achievement of this advance in safety involved extensive studies, both in the testing station (2, 3, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)3/ and in the field 1, 4, 13, 30), of the operating characteristics of diesel engines in relation to the toe of such engines underground. The results of these studies formed the basis for establishing the requirements that should be met by diesel-powered haulage equipment approved for permissibility. Considerable interest has been manifested in the development of diesel-powered haulage equipment fur mines. The purpose of this paper is to retrace briefly the course of this development and to answer such questions as: What is the history of the use of diesel engines underground? Why has the Bureau of Mines been interested in the development of diesel-powered haulage equipment for use in mines?

Jan 1, 1953

By W. Robert Thompson

Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to transportation structures on the Gulf coast in August, 2005, including the destruction of the US 90 Bridge over Biloxi Bay, Mississippi. Part of the successful design/build proposal for the replacement bridge included a comprehensive test pile program of indicator piles and load test piles in the geotechnical investigation program. A total of 22 indicator piles were installed on the project using the pile driving analyzer to monitor the pile behavior. Five load tests were performed: two axial Statnamic, two lateral Statnamic, and one static axial. The results of the test pile program established driving criteria for production piles that included end-of-drive blow counts and pile tip elevations with an appropriate allowance for setup. The program also confirmed that the planned installation equipment and techniques of GC Constructors, a joint venture of Massman Construction Co., Kiewit Southern Co., and Traylor Bros., Inc., would install the piles to the design tip elevations before production piles began. An extensive program of restrike measurements at a range of times after initial driving of the indicator piles provided a systematic documentation of pile setup in the soil profiles on the site. These resistance values were used to develop a dimensionless setup factor ?S? as the ratio of the restrike resistance to the end of drive resistance. This factor varied from 1.5 for piles penetrating clays and tipped in sand to 3.0 for piles bearing completely in clay and helped establish an end-of drive blow count that included an allowance for setup. The CAPWAP analyses of restrike data with setup and the load test data were used to confirm the design unit side shear and end bearing values developed from the borings and static capacity calculations and to select the design pile lengths.

Jan 1, 2009

By P. G. Roden, G. A. Maki, P. J. Fullmann

"In October 1984, Rocanville Division began using a stacking system to handle potash mill tailings. Previous to this date, mill tailings were slurried to the top of the tailings pile and allowed to debrine while flowing mobile stackers. The stackers consist of cyclone packs to debrine the tailings and drag conveyors with screw discharges to deposit the tailings onto the existing pile. The paper will deal with the various aspects of the project from conception to its present state. Key Words: stacking, mobile stackers, Linatex Separators, potash mill tailings, reclaim brine ponds, settling ponds, tailings pile. IntroductionPrevious to 1984, when the stacking project was first implemented, potash mill tailings were handled as follows. Mill tailings were first debrined to approximately 65% solids using a cyclone cluster. The cyclone underflows were then introduced onto a vacuum scroll filter table. Here the tailings were further debrined and discharged into the disposal tank where the tailings were reslurried with reclaim brine and pumped to the tailings disposal site. At the disposal site the slurry was discharged onto the tailings pile and by a natural settling process the tailings were debrined with the brine ultimately collected in the reclaim brine ponds. The shape and profile of the tailings pile was controlled by building salt dikes to control the flow of the discharged tailings slurry. As the tailings pile grew in height, booster pumps were added to the disposal system."

Jan 1, 1986