Rusconi, JM, Goosen, P & Venter, J 2009, 'Co-Disposal Plant and Distribution System to Allow the Proper Closure of Exxaro’s Hillendale Mine Site', 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. 375-382, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_41
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/963_41_Rusconi/)
Abstract: The run of mine ore from the Exxaro Hillendale Heavy Minerals operation contains distinct fine and coarse 
fractions. The fine fraction consists mainly of clay and is referred to as slimes. The coarse fraction consists 
mainly of sand. These are separated during the mineral recovery process. Traditionally these have been 
disposed of separately, either by refilling mining voids or in a tailings dam. However, in order to ensure that 
the land is returned to an arable state, the clay and sand need to be remixed in the same proportion in which 
they occur in the ore body and placed in a sufficiently thick capping layer as part of the final rehabilitation 
process on the mine site.  
During 2007, Paterson & Cooke were asked to design a plant capable of distributing 400 tonnes per hour of 
this mixture. It is required to finely control the ratio of sand to clay and deposit it at a high enough yield 
stress to prevent segregation on placement. 
This paper is a case study of the design, construction and commissioning of the plant.