Mining tail thickening

The minerals industry has faced increasing pressures in recent years in the management of tailings streams. Environmental, economic and other factors have led many minerals producers to explore the technology of making and using “paste.” With the increasing number of installations worldwide, this technology has proved to not only be industry accepted, but economically advantageous. The ability of paste thickeners to produce a higher concentration underflow leads to significant water recovery and savings and also reduces the cost of containment structures.

The most common uses of paste technology employed in tailing streams are surface stacking and water recovery. However, as more research and testing are performed, additional applications for paste technologies are being considered and implemented.

Water Recovery and Tailings Disposal Improved With Paste Thickening

Traditionally, waste disposal has been an environmental challenge for mining. But now the industry has begun to embrace paste, or thickened tailings, as a way to address the challenge. Paste thickening is different than conventional thickening. Specifically, it integrates critical parameters in the thickening, pumping, and disposal of tailings to handle the yield stress.

Managing paste thickener tailings provides benefits such as improved water recovery and dam safety, as well as more effective reclamation/re-vegetation. By taking into account the feed characteristics and standard bench-scale tests, our experience with paste thickener installations can help you make the right thickener selection.