Minerals Blog

Numerous studies and papers have been devoted to the subject of thickener design and operation to achieve specified throughput and discharge densities. Mathematical models have been developed that present methods for sizing thickeners and predicting performance under varying process conditions. The compression effect of deeper beds on dewatering performance is a recognized phenomenon. This is one variable of many that are interrelated and influence thickener performance.

The responsible manufacturing of fertilizer to boost agricultural production and crop yields provides worldwide benefits for increased food production.

Leaching (lixiviation) is commonly used for recovering a wide variety of metals from ores, including precious metals. A lixiviant dissolves the desired metals from the ore; cyanide leaching, for example, is widely used to extract gold.

Lixiviation is often followed by a Counter Current Decantation (CCD) circuit to recover the valuable mineral from the gangue.

Due to the considerable expense of using filtration to achieve dry stack tailings, air-drying of paste or thickened tails is an option worth evaluating. In certain situations, paste technology combined with an inexpensive, widely applicable air-drying scheme can permit bulk handling of the tailings.

Mine tailings disposal, and its impact on water usage, is an important concern for any mining company. The challenge today, whether extracting aluminum, zinc, gold or iron ore, is how to dispose of tailings material such that it is contained and stable, while maximizing water reuse and minimizing surface footprint.

Paste, or thickened tailings, has become an increasingly important method to address many of the environmental problems facing the mining industry. Pasting was originally developed by the alumina industry in the 1970s, and for the past 20 years has been applied worldwide.

Paste, or thickened tailings, have become an increasingly important method to address many of the environmental problems facing the mining industry. The term “paste” as used in this discussion applies to the full range of non-settling tailings that exhibit a yield stress such as “thickened tailings” and “mine paste backfill.”

Philip Lake reviews WesTech's EvenFlo™ feedwell design for the even distribution of the feed slurry in order to provide the end user with the most economical thickener in terms of flocculant consumption and size.