731
Novel, Economic, and Reliable Thickening and Filtration of
Tailings
William Florman, Enzo Peluso
Extrakt Process Solutions LLC-Canada, Canada
Dave Sego
University of Alberta, Canada
David Meadows
Bechtel Mining &Metals, USA
ABSTRACT: Mine wastes, specifically tailings slurries are commonplace, and most mines dispose of them
behind wet impoundment structures. Consequently, the failure of these structures is one of the most significant
safety and environmental liabilities mining operations face. The industry is moving to filtered stackable geo-
stable tailings in response to these risks and recent failures.
Extrakt Process Solutions has developed a novel and effective rapid solid-liquid separation technology, which is
named TNS ™. It is safe, and sustainable, and excels even with difficult-to-dewater slurries, such as those with a
high clay content making it widely applicable. It stands out in terms of high settling and consolidation rates, is
robustness and makes the implementation of stacked filtered tailings possible with reduced capital and operat-
ing costs.
The paper introduces this novel technology, presenting test work results for the dewatering of porphyry cop-
per, gold and iron tailings using both thickening and filtration. Also presented is the anticipated impact of the
TNS ™ on process design, and costing, thus providing a more complete picture of the benefits expected with the
application of this novel technology.
Keywords: porphyry copper, gold and iron ore, flotation tailings, vacuum filtration, pressure filtration.
INTRODUCTION
The transportation and storage of tailings demand care-
ful environmental management. Typically, this residue is
hydraulically transported and deposited in tailings storage
facilities (TSF) using fresh process water. This method is
often more cost-effective than bulk transportation through
conveyor belts, trains, or trucks. It’s worth noting that a
significant portion of the water used for tailings transpor-
tation needs to be recovered for reuse in the metallurgical
process. However, saving water and energy has become one
of the most important premises of global sustainable mine
development [Barrera et al., 2004]
The production of metals such as copper, silver,
gold, lead, zinc, and others is experiencing rapid growth,
Novel, Economic, and Reliable Thickening and Filtration of
Tailings
William Florman, Enzo Peluso
Extrakt Process Solutions LLC-Canada, Canada
Dave Sego
University of Alberta, Canada
David Meadows
Bechtel Mining &Metals, USA
ABSTRACT: Mine wastes, specifically tailings slurries are commonplace, and most mines dispose of them
behind wet impoundment structures. Consequently, the failure of these structures is one of the most significant
safety and environmental liabilities mining operations face. The industry is moving to filtered stackable geo-
stable tailings in response to these risks and recent failures.
Extrakt Process Solutions has developed a novel and effective rapid solid-liquid separation technology, which is
named TNS ™. It is safe, and sustainable, and excels even with difficult-to-dewater slurries, such as those with a
high clay content making it widely applicable. It stands out in terms of high settling and consolidation rates, is
robustness and makes the implementation of stacked filtered tailings possible with reduced capital and operat-
ing costs.
The paper introduces this novel technology, presenting test work results for the dewatering of porphyry cop-
per, gold and iron tailings using both thickening and filtration. Also presented is the anticipated impact of the
TNS ™ on process design, and costing, thus providing a more complete picture of the benefits expected with the
application of this novel technology.
Keywords: porphyry copper, gold and iron ore, flotation tailings, vacuum filtration, pressure filtration.
INTRODUCTION
The transportation and storage of tailings demand care-
ful environmental management. Typically, this residue is
hydraulically transported and deposited in tailings storage
facilities (TSF) using fresh process water. This method is
often more cost-effective than bulk transportation through
conveyor belts, trains, or trucks. It’s worth noting that a
significant portion of the water used for tailings transpor-
tation needs to be recovered for reuse in the metallurgical
process. However, saving water and energy has become one
of the most important premises of global sustainable mine
development [Barrera et al., 2004]
The production of metals such as copper, silver,
gold, lead, zinc, and others is experiencing rapid growth,