Abstract
Extracting and copper production on a large scale generates large volumes of postflotation mine tailings. The scale of operation and development of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) forces the use of innovative solutions enabling safe storage now and in the future. Any changes to the operation require multi-directional monitoring of the impact of these changes on storage safety. The ongoing exploitation will be ensured by expansion of the TSF and a change in tailings storage technology. This approach will preclude the need for changes to the new location, such as changes of land use, and will minimise the volume of mine waste. The paper presents the results of pilot studies carried out to implement the change in postflotation tailings storage technology at Żelazny Most TSF (Poland) in the future. The aim of the paper was settlements prediction of tailings and comparison of deformations with observed settlements. Settlements prediction of tailings was made on the basis of the results of the DMT (Marchetti Dilatometer Test), recommended for the prediction of natural soil settlement. Depending on the analysed zone of the TSF, settlements ranged from a few centimetres to over 1.5 m. Despite the difference shown, the results of DMT and geodetic measurements indicate a convergent trend of settlement.
Highlights
The tailings storage facility (TSF) is one of the key links in the production of copper concentrate, without which manufacturing raw material would be impossible
Considering the results of the conducted research and the results available in the literature, it can be stated that the Dilatometer Tests (DMTs) test, widely recommended for determining settlement of natural soils, can be used to estimate the settlement trend of tailings
The results of the DMT tests allow the determination of approximate tailings settlement values
Summary
The tailings storage facility (TSF) is one of the key links in the production of copper concentrate, without which manufacturing raw material would be impossible. A third approach combining the two previous solutions can be considered As far as this solution is concerned, the simultaneous expansion of the existing storage facility and change in the technology used for depositing postflotation tailings would exclude the need to build another facility in a new location. This would increase the operational capability of the currently used facility and would extend its operation time. The implementation of the third solution requires prior assessment of the suitability of the deposited tailings as a subsoil on which higher density waste (paste) will be stored. Such an analysis is indispensable in predicting the behaviour of the massif of tailings loaded with paste and can be used to assess the overall stability of the entire tailings storage facility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
