Method development of fast MFT sample preparation for XRD measurement of clay chemistry and content

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The consolidation of mature fine tailing (MFT) is significantly affected by the presence of clay. Identification and quantification of clay minerals is key to developing effective engineering models, including polymer addition and utilization of thickening, to help reduce MFT inventories. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a versatile technique that can be used to identify and quantify clay minerals. The precision of qualitative and quantitative XRD results mainly rely on sample preparation that can dramatically influence sample properties, including mean particle size, homogenization, preferred orientation, etc. In the current commercial process, it takes 3 to 4 days to analyze clay contents from fines for MFT samples, which could slow down any operational process proposed to treat MFT. Similarly, the current slow response time will also negatively impact treatment of any tailings species, particularly live tailings, the effective treatment of which would ease long-term problems associated with tailings handling and control. The successful outcome of this project will be the development of a protocol rapid preparation method for MFT samples for accurate XRD analysis, potentially allowing better handling of these key tailings species. Application to live tailings will help operators adjust the chemical additives or flocculants dosage before it goes to the tailing pond to reduce the cost.