Sedimentation Of Tailings Research Articles

Study on sedimentation of tailings sludge from bauxite processing plant of TKV's Aluminum Companies by lamella thickener

Study on sedimentation of tailings sludge from bauxite processing plant of TKV's Aluminum Companies by lamella thickener

Characterization and Analysis of Iron Ore Tailings Sediments and Their Possible Applications in Earthen Construction

Mineral extraction is of ultimate importance for the economies of different countries, and Brazil is one of the world’s leading producers of iron ores. Unfortunately, dams are still the main problem, mainly in Minas Gerais, especially after the Fundão Dam rupture in 2015. Additionally, there is still a massive presence of buildings built on earth throughout the Minas Gerais mining region, built from the 18th century to today. Investigating the potential of iron ore tailings (IOT) to be incorporated into traditional earthen construction techniques in regions affected by dam ruptures presents a relevant and innovative research approach. In addition, the local reuse of these sediments should be the priority. Thus, the main objective of this work was to collect, characterize, and analyze the possibilities of the application of these tailings to produce rammed earth (RE). A complete characterization analysis was performed on the samples collected at three points. To analyze the soil-IOT compatibility, representative mixtures of RE were produced, and the specific mass, compaction, and compressive strength were performed. It was observed that the IOT samples have a high silica content and that the mixtures of IOT–soil, even without cement, reached the compressive strength values of the international standards, or even above them.

High efficiency regulating sedimentation and rheological properties of copper tailings using polycarboxylate superplasticizers

The recovery of low grade and fine particle copper ore usually requires sufficient dissociation, which reduces the particle size to the submicron level, presenting new challenges in subsequent copper tailings disposal. Flocculants can improve tailings sedimentation efficiency, but they also change the rheological properties of the slurry, resulting in low efficiency and high energy consumption during long-distances pumping. To address this issue, this study introduced polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizers as auxiliary additives for tailings treatment to improve fine particles sedimentation efficiency while enhancing slurry flowability. The results showed that compared to non-ionic polyacrylamide (NPAM) treated slurries, the synergistic effects of PCE and NPAM increased the initial sedimentation rate (ISR) by up to 3.4 times while decreasing the yield stress by up to 8 times and the thixotropic loop area by 10.5 times. DLVO theory calculations showed that PCE mainly affects particle interactions through a significant decrease in electrostatic repulsion. By in-situ monitoring with a focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) device, it was demonstrated that the synergistic effect of PCE improved the flocculation ability, strength, and regrowth ability of flocs. Furthermore, strong correlations were found between floc properties and fluid rheological properties. Overall, this study indicated that PCE additive was a promising reagent for fine particles slurry rapid settling and flowability enhancement, providing a new approach for copper tailings disposal.

Impact of magnesium on the flocculation, sedimentation and consolidation of clay-rich tailings in lime-treated seawater

The sustainability of the mining industry in times of climate change, especially in arid regions, rests on seawater. However, now more than ever, it is necessary to optimize processes regarding water consumption and increase recovery and recirculation, including water trapped in tailings dams. Seawater also offers challenges, for example, the condition in which it must be used. This study examines the effects of raw seawater (SW) and lime-treated seawater to reduce Mg content (TSW) under strong alkaline conditions (pH 11) on the flocculation, sedimentation, and consolidation of flocculated quartz-kaolin suspensions using a high molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide as a flocculant. The presence of magnesium precipitates in SW, mainly magnesium hydroxide, leads to sedimentation rates of flocculated quartz-kaolin suspensions considerably lower than in TSW because the aggregates in SW are smaller than in TSW, according to chord size analyses. The precipitates interfere in the flocculant-particle interaction, limiting the adsorption of the flocculant and its ability to form bridges of any kind, polymeric or salt, with the tailings particles. However, Mg precipitates act as short-range and limited extension binders compared to flocculants increasing the resistance of the aggregates much more in SW than in TSW in processes without and with flocculant, whether it is measured as yield stress, elastic moduli, or compressive yield stress. Thus, the new result is that Mg precipitates are responsible for most of the resistance to consolidation of quartz-kaolin suspensions and, therefore, should be avoided. Therefore, TSW should be the choice to facilitate water clarification in thickeners and water recovery from the consolidation of deformable tailings aggregates.

Four New Caddisfly Species of Marilia Müller, 1880 (Trichoptera: Odontoceridae) from a Tailings Dam Disaster Area, Rio Doce basin, Brazil

Marilia is the most diverse genus of the caddisfly family Odontoceridae, being distributed throughout the Oriental, Australasian and Neotropical regions. Herein, we describe four new Neotropical species from the Atlantic Forest, Rio Doce basin, Brazil. This basin was partly affected by a flood of 50 million m3 of mud and mining debris in 2015. Due to this disaster, numerous monitoring activities have been carried out to assess the impact generated. Material from one of these attempts was used to describe the new species: Marilia aranan sp. nov., Marilia krenak sp. nov., M. maxakali sp. nov. and M. mukurin sp. nov. Additionally, we provide a new state record of M. guaira from Minas Gerais. Marilia aranan sp. nov. was collected in tributaries as well as in the impacted area 7 years after the disaster. Marilia guaira and M. krenak sp. nov. were collected only in the impacted area. The other species were found only in tributaries. Odontoceridae are considered highly sensitive to disturbance. The presence of Marilia species suggests that parts of the riverbed have recovered from the fine tailing sediments and also highlights the importance of tributaries in the recolonization process.

Cyanide Biodegradation by a Native Bacterial Consortium and Its Potential for Goldmine Tailing Biotreatment

A native cyanide-degrading bacterial consortium was isolated from goldmine tailing sediments. Mine tailings are toxic effluents due to their metal–cyanide complexes. The bacterial consortium was able to degrade an initial sodium cyanide concentration ranging from 5 to 120 mg L−1 in alkaline synthetic wastewater (pH > 9.2), for a maximum of 15 days. The free cyanide biodegradation efficiency was 98% for the highest initial free cyanide concentration tested and followed a first-order kinetic profile, with an estimated kinetic rate constant of 0.12 ± 0.011 d−1. The cyanide-degrading consortium was streaked with serial dilutions on a specific medium (R2A). 16S rRNA gene sequencing and mass spectrometry proteomic fingerprinting of the isolates showed that the bacterial strains belonged to Microbacterium paraoxydans, Brevibacterium casei, Brevundimonas vesicularis, Bacillus cereus and Cellulosimicrobium sp. The first four genera had previously been identified as cyanide-degrading bacteria. Microbacterium and Brevibacterium had previously been found in alkaline conditions, showing resistance to heavy metals. As for Cellulosimicrobium, to our knowledge, this is the first study to implicate it directly or indirectly in cyanide biodegradation. In this research, these genera were identified as functional bacteria for cyanide degradation, and they might be suitable for mine tailing biotechnological tertiary treatment.

Enhanced flocculation and sedimentation of copper tailings by polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer

The problem of tailings handling and disposal has gradually attracted significant attention around the world. Most studies focus on the tailings’ settling efficiency; however, more attention should be paid to the sediment of tailings which may seriously affect the storage capacity and service life of tailings dams. Therefore, this study aimed to use the polycarboxylate ether/ester (PCE) superplasticizer first time as a mineral surfactant to improve both the settling and the sediment properties of copper tailings. In this purpose, the effects of non-ionic polyacrylamides (NPAM) molecular weight (MW) and PCE dosage on the settlement performance of the tailings were studied. The results showed that, with the synergism of PCE and NPAM, the initial sedimentation rate (ISR) could be increased by up to 2.3 times and the final sediment volume could be reduced by 6.0 %. The floc size and morphology analysis inferred that tailing particles formed larger and more compact flocs after adding PCE. The investigations on the tailings’ wettability and electrical property indicated that PCE could weaken the hydrophilicity and neutralize the negative charges on the particles surface. This research demonstrates that PCE surfactant is conducive to rapid settling and densely stacking, which may provide a great promising reagent for solid–liquid separation of tailings.

The microbial profile of rivers and lagoons three years after the impact of the world's largest mining disaster (Fundão dam, Brazil)

The collapse of the Fundão tailings dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) was the largest environmental disaster in Brazil's history and in the world mining industry. This disaster carried approximately 55 million m3 of iron ore tailings along the rivers and the lagoons of the Doce river basin. Although multiple studies assessed the impact on microbial communities in those rivers and lagoons right after the dam rupture, it is not known whether the microbiome in those environments remains impacted years after the disaster. Assessing the microbiome is very important to evaluate impacts and evaluate the health of the environment, due to the several ecological roles played by microorganisms. Here, we evaluated the impact of the dam failure on water and sediment bacteriome and archaeome by high-throughput next-generation sequencing. Samples were taken from two rivers and six lagoons during the dry and rainy seasons approximately three years post disturbance. The results showed a large number and abundance of microbial groups associated with the presence of heavy metals and mine tailings sediments. Some of these microorganisms were also reported in large abundance in the impacted rivers shortly after the Fundão dam rupture. Among the most abundant microorganisms in the Doce River, we can highlight the bacteria hgcI clade and the archaea Nitrososphera sp. in the water, and the bacteria Anaerolineaceae sp. in the sediment. These results suggest that the microbiome of the rivers and the lagoons in the Doce river basin remains severely impacted by the Fundão tailings dam failure even three years after the disaster. The presence of those microorganisms can also help to assess the occurrence of the Fundão dam sediment in other environments.

The Impact of Residual Dispersant on the Flocculation and Sedimentation of Synthetic Tailings in Seawater

Dispersants under certain conditions favor the flotation of molybdenite in seawater; however, it is not clear if the entrainment of residues to the thickening stage can compromise the quality of the clarified water. In this work, the impact of small concentrations of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on the flocculation and sedimentation of synthetic tailings containing kaolinite, muscovite, and quartz in seawater is evaluated. The flocculant polymer is a high-molecular-weight polyacrylamide, and the pH is alkaline. The results are auspicious for mineral processing. On the one hand, the impact of SHMP is not entirely negative and can be lessened by limiting entrainment, which is good for copper and molybdenum ore processing. On the other hand, if the small increase in turbidity generated by the SHMP is tolerated, it is possible to expect improved settling speeds. Without SHMP, large but light agglomerates are formed. With SHMP, smaller but denser aggregates are formed, settling faster, and minute aggregates increase turbidity. The underlying mechanism derives from the competition between SHMP and polymer chains for the cations in solution; the result is a greater repulsion between the chains, which leads to greater repulsion and thus dispersion of smaller flocculant coils. The study shows that SHMP in concentrations of 1 to 3 kg/t is perfectly acceptable. The results represent an advance in the understanding of SHMP interactions with polymers and minerals in water clarification, which should be of interest to the industry whose sustainability in some regions depends on closing the water cycle.

Temperature Variation Characteristics and Model Optimization of Flocculation Sedimentation of Overflow Ultra-Fine Iron Tailings

In order to study the effect of temperature on the settling characteristics of overflow ultra-fine iron tailings, the settling velocity of overflow ultra-fine iron tailings at eight different temperatures at 10–80 °C was experimentally studied. The results show that, with the increase in slurry temperature, the flocculation settling velocity of overflow ultra-fine iron tailings increases first and then decreases. That is, when the temperature is less than 60 °C, the settling velocity of flocs increases with the increase in temperature. When the temperature is 60 °C, the settling velocity reaches the maximum 5.66 mm/s. When the temperature is more than 60 °C, the settling velocity of tailings flocs gradually decreases. In addition, with the increase in the test temperature, when the temperature is less than 60 °C, the particle size, fractal dimension, and density of tailings flocculant gradually increase, the gap of flocculant structure gradually decreases, and the floc structure becomes denser. When the temperature is higher than 60 °C, the particle size, fractal dimension, and density of flocs gradually decrease, and the gap between flocs is larger than that at 60 °C. On this basis, the temperature model of overflow ultra-fine iron tailings is established according to the analysis of particle settling process, and the settling model was optimized according to different settling areas. The mean absolute error between the optimized settling velocity and the actual velocity is 0.007, the root mean square error is 0.002, and the error is small. The theoretical calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental data, and the optimized flocculation settling model has an important role in promoting the theoretical study of the flocculation settling of such ultra-fine iron mineral particles, and can be used to guide the sedimentation and separation system to achieve good sedimentation treatment effect under the best working conditions as required.

Comprehensive geotechnical and geochemical characterisation of two diamond ore tailings

The physical and chemical stability of tailing deposits sometimes have conflicting priorities, yet they are rarely examined congruently comprehensively. This paper presents an investigation of the combined geotechnical and geochemical behaviours of two samples of diamond ore tailings. Detailed basic and advanced geotechnical laboratory characterisation tests were conducted to evaluate the particle size distribution, hindered sedimentation, compressibility, hydraulic conductivity and undrained shear strength of both tailings. Furthermore, duplicate specimens to evaluate the drainage effluent’s geochemical compositions were conducted to evaluate the compliance with regulatory concentration criteria. The cation and anion concentrations of the expelled water were analysed at different consolidation stages, along with other basic geochemical index properties such as pH, redox potential and electrical conductivity. Both the geotechnical large strain consolidation testing and geochemical pore fluid collection were performed in a controlled-temperature environment to represent the cold climatic regime at the mine site. Tests were performed in a walk-in freezer with a nominal ambient temperature of 4–5°C. Moreover, the drainage effluent from the large-strain consolidation geochemical duplicates was collected using an innovative sampling system that ensured that the sample was not exposed to the atmosphere. The geotechnical and geochemical implications of both tailing treatments are discussed.

Flocculation of Clay-Based Tailings: Differences of Kaolin and Sodium Montmorillonite in Salt Medium.

Complex gangues and low-quality waters are a concern for the mining industries, particularly in water shortage areas, where the closure of hydric circuits and reduction in water use are essential to maintain the economic and environmental sustainability of mineral processing. This study analyzes the phenomena involved in the water recovery stage, such as sedimentation of clay-based tailings flocculated with anionic polyelectrolyte in industrial water and seawater. Flocculation–sedimentation batch tests were performed to ascertain the aggregate size distribution, the hindered settling rate, and the structure of flocs expressed through their fractal dimension and density. The aggregates’ properties were characterized by the Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) and Particle Vision Microscope (PVM) techniques. The impact of the type of water depends on the type of clay that constitutes the suspension. For quartz/kaolin, the highest performance was obtained in industrial water, with bigger aggregates and faster settling rates. However, the tailings composed of quartz/Na-montmorillonite reversed this trend. The type of water impacted the efficiency of primary-particle aggregation. The trials in industrial water generated a portion of non-flocculated particles, which was observed through a bimodal distribution in the unweighted chord-length distribution. This behavior was not observed in seawater, where a perceptible fraction of non-flocculated particles was not found. The additional cationic bonds that offer seawater favor finer primary-particle agglomeration for all tailings types.

Determination of heavy metal elements concentration in soils and tailing sediments from lateritic nickel post-mining areas in Motui District, Southeast Sulawesi

Heavy metal elements concentration study has been determined from soils and tailing sediments in laterite nickel post-mining area in Motui District Southeast Sulawesi. This study aimed to determine the concentration of some heavy metal elements, especially Fe, Co, Mn and Cr, from surface soils sediments in waste dump sites and tailing sediments in settling ponds from lateritic nickel post-mining areas. A total of 20 samples consisting of 18 soil samples and 2 tailing sediments samples were systematically collected for the study. The soil samples from the waste dump site profile were collected from 3 layers which were divided based on the colour of the soils from top to bottom, namely Layer C, Layer D and Layer E. Six soil samples were taken from each layer with space between each sample in one layer was about 50 – 60 cm. The samples were sent to the laboratory and analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) method to determine the concentration of heavy elements. Metal-bearing minerals detected from the bedrock consists of chromite, manganese, magnetite and limonite which are responsible for the Cr, Mn and Co, and Fe content, respectively. The result showed that Fe content is significantly higher in soil samples from Layer C and tailing sediments with dark red to brown in colour, suggesting the strong relation between Fe content and colour index. The general element mobility trend showed that Mn and Co are positively correlated in soil sampling from all layers and tailing samples, whereas Fe and Cr show a negative correlation trend in Layer C, D and tailing sediments but positively correlated in Layer E.

Lime/Sodium Carbonate Treated Seawater to Improve Flocculation and Sedimentation of Clay-Based Tailings.

Seawater treated with lime and sodium carbonate in different proportions to reduce magnesium and calcium contents is used in flocculation and sedimentation tests of artificial quartz and kaolin tailings. Solid complexes were separated from water by vacuum filtration, and factors such as lime/sodium carbonate ratio, kaolin content, flocculation time, and flocculant dose are evaluated. The growth of the aggregates was captured in situ by a focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) probe. Solid magnesium and calcium complexes are formed in raw seawater at pH 11, impairing the performance of flocculant polymers based on polyacrylamides. The results show that the settling rate improved when the treatment’s lime/sodium carbonate ratio increased. That is, when a greater removal of magnesium is prioritized over calcium. The amount of magnesium required to be removed depends on the mineralogy of the system: more clay will require more significant removal of magnesium. These results respond to the structural changes of the flocs, achieving that the more magnesium is removed, the greater the size and density of the aggregates. In contrast, calcium removal does not significantly influence flocculant performance. The study suggests the necessary conditions for each type of tailing to maximize water recovery, contributing to the effective closure of the water cycle in processes that use seawater with magnesium control.

Seasonal Dynamics of Methanotrophic Bacteria in a Boreal Oil Sands End Pit Lake.

Base Mine Lake (BML) is the first full-scale demonstration end pit lake for the oil sands mining industry in Canada. We examined aerobic methanotrophic bacteria over all seasons for 5 years in this dimictic lake. Methanotrophs comprised up to 58% of all bacterial reads in 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses (median 2.8%), and up to 2.7 × 104 cells mL-1 of water (median 0.5 × 103) based on qPCR of pmoA genes. Methanotrophic activity and populations in the lake water were highest during fall turnover and remained high through the winter ice-covered period into spring turnover. They declined during summer stratification, especially in the epilimnion. Three methanotroph genera (Methylobacter, Methylovulum, and Methyloparacoccus) cycled seasonally, based on both relative and absolute abundance measurements. Methylobacter and Methylovulum populations peaked in winter/spring, when methane oxidation activity was psychrophilic. Methyloparacoccus populations increased in the water column through summer and fall, when methane oxidation was mesophilic, and also predominated in the underlying tailings sediment. Other, less abundant genera grew primarily during summer, possibly due to distinct CH4/O2 microniches created during thermal stratification. These data are consistent with temporal and spatial niche differentiation based on temperature, CH4 and O2. This pit lake displays methane cycling and methanotroph population dynamics similar to natural boreal lakes. IMPORTANCE The study examined methanotrophic bacteria in an industrial end pit lake, combining molecular DNA methods (both quantitative and descriptive) with biogeochemical measurements. The lake was sampled over 5 years, in all four seasons, as often as weekly, and included sub-ice samples. The resulting multiseason and multiyear data set is unique in its size and intensity, and allowed us to document clear and consistent seasonal patterns of growth and decline of three methanotroph genera (Methylobacter, Methylovulum, and Methyloparacoccus). Laboratory experiments suggested that one major control of this succession was niche partitioning based on temperature. The study helps to understand microbial dynamics in engineered end pit lakes, but we propose that the dynamics are typical of boreal stratified lakes and widely applicable in microbial ecology and limnology. Methane-oxidizing bacteria are important model organisms in microbial ecology and have implications for global climate change.

The influence of the Doce River mouth on the microbiome of nearby coastal areas three years after the Fundão Dam failure, Brazil

The failure of the Fundão Dam, considered the world's largest mining disaster, released more than 55 million m3 of ore tailings into the environment. The sediment plume formed by water and tailings spread along approximately 663 km of water bodies of the Doce River basin. It reached the Atlantic Ocean sixteen days after the dam failure. However, the effects of the dam failure in the marine coastal areas years after the disaster are still unknown. This study aims to evaluate water and sediment microbial communities of nearby coastal areas three years after the Fundão Dam failure, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. A total of 441 samples from 25 locations were collected during two different seasons (dry and rainy). The results showed that the Doce River mouth seems to divide the microbial communities from the southern and northern stations into two groups. The plume of sediments from the Doce River seems to be impacting the marine microbiome even at the furthest sampling stations. Bacterial (Anaerolineaceae, Thermodesulfovibrionia and Rhodopirellula) and Archaeal (Bathyarchaeia and Woesearchaeia) taxa, found in high abundance in the sediment of the Doce River mouth, have been previously described in high abundance in heavy metal contaminated sediments, including the Doce River itself and in mine tailing sediments. Cyanobium, found in great abundance in the water samples from the Doce River mouth, was also reported as the most abundant in the water of the Doce River after the Fundão Dam failure. Overall, the farther from the Doce River mouth the sample was, the lower the relative abundances of these taxa were. These results provide strong evidence that the sediment plume released by the Fundão Dam failure is probably impacting the marine microbiome of nearby coastal areas, even three years after the dam failure.

Microbial-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation to Accelerate Sedimentation of Fine Tailings

Microbial-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation to Accelerate Sedimentation of Fine Tailings

Trace elements migrating from tailings to rock varnish laminated sediments in an old mining region from Nelson, Nevada, USA

The dispersion and influence of soluble and particulate trace elements (TEs) present in the materials from abandoned mines is an imminent problem on terrestrial and aquatic environments. The goal of this research is to provide a broader view of such transport, assessing particle size distribution and TE interactions (e.g., scavenging) with mine tailings and locally derived sediments transported by water in arid region. Sand grains from wash sediment were collected from a dry ephemeral wash in Nelson, Nevada where the Techatticup Mine and Mill worked between 1850 and 1960. Samples were evaluated to determine the association and behavior of certain metals and metalloids including aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, manganese, lead, selenium, vanadium, and zinc to rock varnish laminated sediments. Results show that some metals and metalloids were more concentrated on larger particles whereas others indicated the opposite tendency. For example, As was greatest on silt fractions and least on coarse fractions, while Se was detected only on silts. Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations all increased with decreasing particle size (silt > sand > coarse), whereas Al, Ba, and V showed the opposite trend (silt < sand < coarse). The enrichment factor (EF) of Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Se were lower in mine tailing sediment treated with wash than those obtained for source material. However in treated wash sediment samples, the high EFs of Ba, Cr, V, and Mn suggested a possible greater affinity of these metals to the Al, Fe, and Mn oxides from the RV sediment. The data found in this study show that transport of contaminated sediments in arid regions could lead to the enrichment of some TEs in down-gradient areas from source materials.

Flocculation Settling Characteristics of Ultra-Fine Iron Tailings with Rich Gypsum

Because of the uniqueness of geological mineralization, tailings obtained from Chenchao Iron Mine have low SiO2 content of only 27.80%. Content of Al2O3 and MgO is 13.31% and CaSO4 is 22.09%. The fineness modulus of the ores is large enough for convenient mineral separation, thus resulting in 16.03% −5 μm particles and 27.76% −10 μm particles in the tailings, respectively. The average particle size is only 69.36 μm; it belongs to the category of very fine tailings. The natural sedimentation of tailings is extremely slow due to the comprehensive effects of their physical and chemical properties. Hence, sedimentation tests using four types of flocculating agents are conducted to accelerate the sedimentation of the tailings of Chenchao Iron Mine. Compared with natural sedimentation, the flocculating sedimentation is considerably quicker. Among the four flocculants, the sedimentation of sample using the special BASF flocculant is the fastest. When the tailings of 1 ton add this flocculant of 20 g, the maximum settling concentration reaches 60.98% after 40 min and its special gravity is 1.577 g/cm3, thus it fulfills future requirements of filling technologies. As the largest iron mine in the mid-southern region of China, Chenchao Iron Mine must turn to filling mining. This study can provide technological support for goaf management and environment-friendly treatment of solid waste in the Yangtze River basin, which plays important roles in ecological protection.

Hydraulic classification and sedimentation behaviors of iron tailings

Tailings pond is a large-scale fragmented sedimentary body formed by mining tailings, and the safety management of tailings pond affects the sustainable development of mining productions. The nature sedimentation behavior of the tailings is the initial condition to obtain the particle fractal dimension and packing structures of tailings, and is also the basis to evaluate the stability of tailings pond. To study the natural sedimentation behaviors of iron tailings, 4 large-scale simulation tests of tailings hydraulic sorting are carried out in Nanjing city, Tangshan city, and Benxi city of China, and the hydraulic sedimentation behaviors in the test process and post-test process are monitored and tested. Meanwhile, the in situ samples in the model channels are taken and tested by the soil mechanics and sedimentological theories, to analyze grain composition and spatial distribution law. This research summarizes the hydraulic sedimentation and grain composition behaviors of iron tailings, and provides data for the exploration and simulation of the natural formation process of sedimentary materials.