Appraisal of Conventional and Paste Options for the Disposal of Tailings Over the Remaining Life of the Venetia Diamond Mine

Authors: van der Walt, H; Rusconi, JM; Goosen, P Paper is not available for download Contact Us

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_39

Cite As:
van der Walt, H, Rusconi, JM & Goosen, P 2009, 'Appraisal of Conventional and Paste Options for the Disposal of Tailings Over the Remaining Life of the Venetia 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. 355-363, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_39



Abstract:
Venetia mine is evaluating options for the disposal of fine residue tailings over a potential life-of-mine (LOM) extension. Venetia mine appointed a project team to assess these options, and Paterson & Cooke Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd were requested to undertake the thickening, pumping, piping, and electrical and instrumentation (E&I) aspects of the work. Future disposal options will require either an expansion of the two existing fine residue disposal tailings facilities or an entirely new facility. The tailings can be disposed of as conventional, low density slurry or as a higher density paste. During the early phase of the study, six options were considered. This was later reduced to four, three paste, and one conventional option. A decision on the preferred option needs to take into account a diverse range of requirements including, but not limited to, capital and operating costs. These include factors such as the flexibility of the pumping system to accommodate changes in rheology, flow rate and pumping distance and the operational requirements of the mine. This paper presents the thickening, pumping, piping and associated E&I systems required for these options, estimated capital and operating costs and a discussion of the relative merits of each one.

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