TY - CPAPER T1 - Overview of the Methodology Employed During the Feasibility and Trade-Off Studies and Optimum Disposal Strategy T2 - Paste 2005: International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings AU - Marais, FJ AU - Snyman, BJ AU - Lötter, PF AU - Newman, PD AU - Wates, JA ED - Jewell, R A2 - Jewell, R ED - Barrera, S A2 - Barrera, S DA - 2005/04/20 PY - 2005 PB - Australian Centre for Geomechanics PP - Perth CY - Perth C1 - Perth SP - 231 EP - 250 AB - Finsch Diamond Mine, owned by the De Beers Group is situated approxi- mately 200 km North West of Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Improved market conditions motivated Finsch Mine to consider increasing their production by 40%. The need to increase production, together with the fact that the existing fine residue deposit facilities, known in the South African diamond industry as Slimes Dams, are nearing the end of their useful lives, initiated a number of feasibility and trade-off studies to develop a new fines disposal strategy. The scope of the feasibility studies comprised site selection, evaluation of dif- ferent disposal strategies, optimisation of the slurry transportation system and modifications to the existing process plant. Throughout these studies, social and environmental considerations formed part of the evaluation process. The results of these studies have shown that slimes disposal, as thickened tailings / paste will be optimal in terms of cost, risk and environmental impact. This paper presents an overview of the methodology employed during the feasibility and trade-off studies to analyse different options relating to paste pro- duction, incorporating existing plant and new technology. 232 Paste 2005, Santiago, Chile Overview of the Methodology... Marais, F.J. et al. UR - https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/563_16_Marais/ ER - DO - 10.36487/ACG_repo/563_16