Evaluating the dry stacking performance of commingled waste rock and filtered tailings

Authors: Burden, R; Wilson, GW Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2355_53

Cite As:
Burden, R & Wilson, GW 2023, 'Evaluating the dry stacking performance of commingled waste rock and filtered tailings', 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. 686-692, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2355_53



Abstract:
Dry stacking of filtered tailings is becoming an increasingly widespread approach to tailings management. Dry stacking can potentially offer some significant advantages over traditional tailings deposition, such as lower geotechnical risk, greater water return, much lower overall waste volume, and ease of reclamation and closure, thereby enabling a higher level of post-closure land use. However, filtration and compaction costs, and the operational complexity of dry stacking, can make it challenging. It has been shown that commingling of filtered tailings and waste rock can improve the geotechnical performance of the stack, and it has the potential to allow stacks to be constructed more rapidly in higher lifts, making dry stacking more economical for large operations. This paper presents an overview of recent research into the geotechnical properties of filtered tailings and waste rock blends. Results from a series of shear strength and consolidation tests are also presented. It is shown that the addition of waste rock to filtered tailings stacks significantly increases the shear strength and reduces the pore pressure response during placement. This could potentially allow higher and faster lifts to be stacked safely.

Keywords: filtered tailings, commingling, dry stacking

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