Martinson, R, Cooke, R & Stipo, N 2005, 'Cabildo Mine Backfill System', in R Jewell & S Barrera (eds), Paste 2005: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 317-330, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/563_21
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/563_21_Martinson/)
Abstract: Minera Las Cenizas is planning to fill mined out sections of the Cabildo Mine
(located 150 km north of Santiago) with tailings, to delay the construction of a
new surface tailings storage facility for the mine.  About 2.0 million cubic metres
of void space is available to backfill tailings at a rate of 2,500 ton/d.
The paper presents a study conducted to establish the feasibility of placing
tailings into the mine voids. A trade-off study indicated that the optimum concen-
tration to place the tailings is in the range of 62% to 64% by mass (i.e. as a high
density thickened tailings).
The paper describes the following aspects of the system:
• Test work conducted for the project (rheology and sedimentation tests).
• Conceptual trade-off study for optimum concentration deposition.
• Thickened tailings pump and pipeline distribution system.
• Method for filling the mine voids with tailings and recovery supernatant
water.
• Project initial costs.
It is expected that the system will be commissioned in March 2006.
318 Paste 2005, Santiago, Chile
Cabildo Mine Backfill System  Martinson, R. et al.