Introduction to Tailings Management

March 15, 2011

Components of a Mine
Access Roads Mill or Processing Plant

Tailings Impoundment

Open Pits & Underground Workings

Process Ponds & Water Supply Waste Rock Dumps Reclamation Soil Stockpiles

What are Tailings?

Waste product from ore grinding & mineral extraction Rock ground to sand and silt sizes to maximize liberation of metals in extraction processes

What are Tailings?

Two ore more stages of crushing typical Primary crushing to 12 mm Fine grinding circuits

Function of Tailings Impoundments

Operations: Safe storage of tailings solids & process water Sedimentation & clarification of water for reclaim to process plant Store & attenuate floods at mine site Mitigate Acid Rock Potential

Function of Tailings Impoundments

Closure: Safe storage of tailings solids & water Polish water for release to environment Reclaimed to meet postclosure land uses Mitigate Acid Rock Potential

Challenges
Tailings dams are now largest dams in the world

Focus of intense environmental scrutiny

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Site characterization Climate Hydrology studies Geotechnical & geology studies Hydrogeology studies Environmental baseline

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Tailings characterization Geotechnical properties Geochemical properties Technologies assessment Thickened tailings Paste tailings Filtered tailings

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Design criteria Factors of safety Seismic design parameters Design flood events

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Engineering Design Tailings staging plan Dam structures Water balance Surface water management plan Groundwater management plan

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Risk Assessment Continuous evaluation of environmental risks at each project development stage Enables tracking of risk mitigation throughout design process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) technique

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Environmental Management Plans

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Closure Plans Meet long-term land uses (agriculture, industrial, etc.) Stable against landslides and seismic loading Resistant to wind and water erosion

Tailings Management Studies

Main Components
Quantities & cost estimate Initial Capital costs Sustaining Capital costs Operating costs Closure costs

Process of Design Studies

Conceptual Pre-Feasibility

Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)

Initial project financial assessment (go/no go)

Feasibility

Bankable feasibility cost estimates Permitting support document

Project Timelines
Exploration -30 t = 0 yr 2 3 Pre-Feasibility 4 Feasibility

Preliminary Economic Assessment

Engineering Studies
3+ mths
Conceptual Engineering

6+ mths Pre-Feasibility

12+ mths Feasibility

Environmental Studies
Baseline Studies

EIA

Preguntas?