High Concentration Tailings Transportation System Optimisation

Authors: Cooke, R

Presented at: Paste 2005

Paper Abstract

The ever increasing move towards high concentration tailings disposal systems over the last decade has mainly been driven by the need to achieve water savings. While the technology for implementing high concentration tailings systems is largely mature, there is a tendency to design for systems for the maximum concentration tailings that can be produced. This often results in uneconomic system designs.

This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to determine the optimum concentration for a high concentration tailings transportation system. The study considers the effects of pipeline length, elevation change, tonnage and energy cost.

It is recognised that a comprehensive life cycle costing including all the tailings disposal elements must be performed before selecting the optimum tailings concentration. 186 Paste 2005, Santiago, Chile High Concentration Tailings... Cooke, R.