Shifting the Mind Set: Tailings Management at the Las Cruces Mine (Seville, Spain)

Abstract

The Las Cruces copper project has faced a number of important challenges during its 20 year history of development and operations. From the first, the engineering design and planning of the project was highly influenced by the earlier, nearby Los Frailes tailings dam failure and a concern for environmental protection. The successful design, construction, and operation of a surface, dry stacking tailings facility, the first of its kind in Spain, were key factors in regaining the confidence of local communities in the mining industry and in establishing social licence for continued mining. Now, the open pit resources are almost depleted and a new underground operation and renewed hydrometallurgical plant are undergoing permitting to extend the life of the project by more than 15 years, to facilitate mining of primary polymetallic resources beneath the secondary sulphides. This project will require a significant shift in the mind set of all stakeholders involved, including a new approach to tailings management that will allow Las Cruces to benefit from synergies between mine backfilling, tailings disposal, and environmental protection.