Slatter, PT & Seddon, KD 2015, 'Evaluation of the rheology of pipehead flocculated tailings', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2015: Proceedings of the 18th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 131-137, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1504_08_Slatter
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1504_08_Slatter/)
Abstract: Pipehead flocculation is now a realistic option for mining tailings dewatering and disposal. However, for beach slope prediction, it is of fundamental importance to gauge the impact that pipehead flocculation could have on the rheology of the agglomerated tailings material, and how this might change after extended periods of shear as the agglomerated material flows down the beach. To this end, the laboratory of ATC Williams was requested to conduct a programme of laboratory testing of mine tailings samples. The objective was to provide information on the rheological properties of pipehead flocculated tailings samples. For this exercise, two different tailings samples were used, and two different types of flocculants were used. The overall aim of the study was to obtain rheology for the purpose of predicting beach slopes. In order to achieve this, rheograms were obtained after varying time periods of sample pre-shear, so that any change in flow characteristics as the tailings flowed down the beach could be ascertained. For the first tailings material, for both flocculants, the rheological behaviour was essentially very similar for each test. Furthermore, there was no evidence of structural rebuild of the polymeric agglomerates. The second tailings sample material was sensitive to both flocculant type and shear history. This material showed evidence of structural rebuild of the polymeric agglomerates. Possible reasons for the fundamentally different behaviour are discussed. It is concluded that pipehead flocculation is a viable option, but needs to be evaluated for each material and flocculant type.