Mulligan, MC, Paterson, AJC & van Sittert, F 2009, 'An Integrated Approach to Paste Thickening and Pumping at the Voorspoed Diamond Mine', in R Jewell, AB Fourie, S Barrera & J Wiertz (eds), Paste 2009: Proceedings of the Twelfth International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 169-178, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_20
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/963_20_Mulligan/)
Abstract: During April 2008, De Beers commissioned a new diamond mine near Kroonstad South Africa, known as 
Voorspoed Mine. Water scarcity in the area required the use of paste thickeners at the end of the process to 
recover as much water as possible. An integrated approach was used to design the paste thickeners and 
slurry pipeline system that was needed to deliver as high a solids concentration as possible, while still using 
centrifugal pumps. 
This paper reviews the methods used between the paste thickener vendor (FLSmidth) and the slurry pipeline 
design company (Paterson & Cooke) to maximise the recovery of water from the paste thickeners. Findings 
on the project are shared in the following areas: test work; computer simulations; detailed design of the 
equipment and control systems; and commissioning of the plant.