Application of filtered tailings storage method at Tüprag Efemçukuru Gold Mine

Authors: Inci, YS; Uzunçelebi, G; Ürkmez, H; Ennis, S; Kimball, P; Ruiz Castro, E Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2355_27

Cite As:
Inci, YS, Uzunçelebi, G, Ürkmez, H, Ennis, S, Kimball, P & Ruiz Castro, E 2023, 'Application of filtered tailings storage method at Tüprag Efemçukuru Gold Mine', in GW Wilson, NA Beier, DC Sego, AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2023: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, University of Alberta, Edmonton, and Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 354-371, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2355_27



Abstract:
The filtered mine waste management method is a good alternative for sustainable mining and minimising environmental footprint. This method was applied for the first time at the commercial level in Turkey in 2011 at Tüprag Efemçukuru Gold Mine. At the Tüprag’s Efemçukuru Gold Mine (Efemçukuru), half of the dewatered filter cake is pumped to underground as paste backfill, the other half (filtered tailings) is stored in a surface tailings storage facility (TSF). The tailings material designated for surface is dewatered to approximately 80% solids through the use of thickening and filter presses and turned into a filter cake. The filtered tailings stockpile is a lined facility constructed with a double geosynthetic low permeability base liner system and includes a leakage detection system. Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) principles and Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) are being applied for the management of the storage facility. Filtered tailings storage methods have advantages over other tailings deposition methods including increased physical stability of the stored heap due to the decrease in the waste saturation, and mitigation of potential failure mechanisms (e.g. liquefaction) as long as the tailings material is sufficiently compacted. Filtered tailings are also placed at an increased density, which reduces the facility footprint. Furthermore, deposition at a low water content means an active pond is not required within the TSF which allows for progressive reclamation. In this article, practical experience gained through the design, testing, construction and operation of the Efemçukuru filtered TSF is presented as well as the discussion of the ongoing implementation of Best Available Practices (BAP) and Best Available Technologies (BAT) in the site’s mine tailings management practices.

Keywords: filtered tailings, filtered stack, filtered tailings management, sustainable mining, best available practices, best available techniques

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