Gladman, BJ, Usher, SP & Scales, PJ 2006, 'Understanding the Thickening Process', in R Jewell, S Lawson & P Newman (eds), Paste 2006: Proceedings of the Ninth International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 5-12, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/663_1
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/663_1_Gladman/)
Abstract: The thickening process is the primary method of producing high solids slurries for the minerals industry.  
Thickener outputs can accommodate a range of tailings disposal options from low yield stress, easily 
pumped suspensions for disposal in conventional ‘wet’ tailings dams to more concentrated slurries for 
delivery to ‘dry disposal’ and backfill applications.  The thickening process, although operated successfully 
in a large range of sites around the world, is poorly understood and predictive design of thickening devices is 
still empirical.  Although predictive models of thickening do exist, the correlation to reality is often poor and 
there is a desperate need to bring the two together to make rational improvements to thickener design and 
operation.  Therefore, whilst some would dismiss the models as being unacceptable for predictive design, 
they are very useful in formulating expected operational trends and providing an understanding of the 
directions one should take in improving operational performance.  The aim of this article is to bring together 
model, laboratory and in-field results to elucidate the state of the art in understanding thickener operation 
from first principles.