A comprehensive study of the paste recipes for the Victoria project: part 1

Authors: Taghipoor, S; Dussiaume, D; Hosseini, N Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2655_24

Cite As:
Taghipoor, S, Dussiaume, D & Hosseini, N 2026, 'A comprehensive study of the paste recipes for the Victoria project: part 1', in AB Fourie, M Horta, M Oliveira & S Wilson (eds), Paste 2026: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-12, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2655_24



Abstract:
KGHM’s Victoria mine (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada) requires an atypical paste backfill plant design as there will not be a mill constructed on the mine site. The lack of tailings necessitates that the mine uses its development rock waste stockpile to produce backfill material to service production. Supporting backfill design, the lab programs focused on evaluating various blends of alluvial sand with ground waste rock to produce a technically and financially viable paste product capable of satisfying the mine’s requirements. A comprehensive paste fill lab testing program has been undertaken by both Paterson and Cooke and WSP Canada Inc. Conducted sequentially and independently by these 2 consulting firms, the investigation focused on the impact of various materials and mix parameters on the short-term strength performance of paste backfill. Parameters considered in the formulation of the paste recipe included rock mineralogy, application of grinding technology, particle size distribution of the grind, alluvial sand properties, fines content, and binder type. This paper focuses on the variation of the strength of the paste fill samples with respect to 3 parameters: sand type, binder ratio, and fines content. In addition to the binder ratio, the interaction between sand particle size distribution and binder was found to be critical in optimising paste recipe performance. Fines content was also found to have a significant impact on strength and binder requirement. The study provides essential insight into the design and implementation of cost-effective and performance-optimised paste backfill systems for deep mining environments. Recommendations are provided to guide material selection and mix design strategies that balance strength requirements with material availability and economic considerations.

Keywords: paste fill recipe, high-pressure grinding rollers, ground waste rock, strength

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