Accelerating Consolidation and Closure of Mine Tailings Storage Facilities

所有采矿作业都涉及产生废物。许多人认为这种废物(尾矿)及其环境可接受的储存构成了地球上最大的废物问题，因为尾矿储存设施的故障造成了巨大的破坏和生命损失。该项目的重点是一种尚未完全投入使用的脱水技术--电渗透(EO)，以改善尾矿的强度、稳定性和沉降特性。将在三个尺度(实验室、中观和最重要的是实地)进行复杂的测试，并开发通用的数值模型，以制定实用的准则，以促进在世界各地的矿山实施环境保护。

All mining operations involve the production of waste. Many regard such waste (tailings) and their environmentally acceptable storage as constituting the largest waste problem on Earth because of the enormous damage and loss-of-life that have resulted from failures of tailings storage facilities. This project focuses on a dewatering technology, electro-osmosis (EO), which has yet to be fully operationalised, for improving the strength, stability and settlement characteristics of the tailings. Sophisticated testing will be undertaken at three scales (lab, meso and, most importantly, field), as well as the development of generic numerical models, to create practical guidelines to facilitate the implementation of EO in mines around the world.