Authors: Wickens, J; Dreyer, Z; Gerhardi, J; van der Spuy, B
Presented at: Paste 2023
Paper Abstract
A gold mine in East Africa has decided to implement a new paste backfill system. To implement the overall project while ensuring that all the design, environmental and government requirements are satisfied, the mine decided to undertake a comprehensive test work campaign to understand their tailings. The test work program focused on the following:
- Transport of tailings to the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and
- Tailings used for paste backfill material.
For the design of the transportation system of tailings to the TSF, the test program focused on the basic material and slurry properties which were used as inputs for the various other tests. Large-scale pipe loop tests were conducted on the tailings to measure the existing system’s pressure gradients, stationary deposition velocities and centrifugal pump performances at the operating density range (30%m to 50%m).
For the paste backfill system design, the test program focused on thickening and filtration tests to determine the dewatering characteristics of the tailings. Filter cake bulk material handling tests were conducted to provide input to conveyor and chute designs. In order to understand the material that would be placed underground, unconfined compressive strength and rheology tests were conducted as part of the paste backfill reticulation design, and modified acid-base accounting, net acid generation and shake flask, and tank leach tests were conducted on the cemented paste mixes as part of the environmental tests. This paper presents the laboratory test results on which the overall tailings management design was based.
