Pilot scale simulation of thickened tailings flows for surface deposition

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Thickening mine tailings prior to surface disposal is an attractive alternative to conventional disposal in dams, as it eliminates the catastrophic risks of dam failure, reduces the total volume of tailings, and reduces the potential for seepage of contaminants. When deposited on the ground, thickened tailings flow like toothpaste, forming gently sloping stacks. However, at present, engineers are unable to anticipate how the tailings flow and how the geometry of the stack will develop, making thickened tailings management difficult. This study investigates the large-scale flow of thickened tailings and will develop a computer code cable of simulating the evolution in stack geometry. This computer code can then be used by engineers to design closure schemes before the tailings are even deposited, which will facilitate rapid isolation of the tailings from the environment.