Tailings Management
Tailings are the by-product of ore processing that contains valuable minerals that could not be recovered in the conventional ore processing method. Tailings contain a wide range of materials including ore concentrates, gangue minerals and unwanted minerals such as sulfides, silicates and other metals. As waste material, tailings inevitably constrain resources and cause environmental pollution. To mitigate the adverse impacts of tailings on the environment, proper tailings management strategies should be adopted.
One primary factor of tailings management relates to the extraction process and entails the evaluation of tailings waste prior to mining and ore processing activities. Mineralogical analysis and metallurgical testing can be used to limit the waste to specified compositions. Alternatively, the mining process can be altered to improve recovery of valuable minerals so that the amount of tailings is reduced as much as possible.
When mineral-bearing ore is extracted and processed, the wastes generated are usually stored as tailings in temporary facilities, such as heaps or ponds, or disposed of in open dumps. It is essential to design a plan for where and how the wastes will be stored. The selected site must incorporate the environment’s existing ecology and minimize the potential for harm. This plan should also consider the potential for later conversion of the tailings waste into valuable resources.
Following ore processing, the tailings waste must be managed in the short term in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Short-term management entails providing appropriate methods of containment, so as to minimize the potential for environmental contamination. Long-term management should also be considered and includes the closure of the tailings facility and/or the reuse of tailings waste.
The tailings waste facility should be closed when it no longer serves a beneficial purpose. In this case, the tailings should be relocated, stabilized and dried to facilitate the closure process. Once the tailings have been completely removed, the area should be reclaimed and the land should be restored to its previous state.
Tailings can be reused under certain conditions. For example, tailings are used to backfill underground mines to improve safety or to grate a permanent foundation for buildings or roads. They can also be recycled or used as a soil improvement material.
In conclusion, tailings management is essential for ensuring the sustainability of industrial mineral and metal production activities. By analyzing and managing the substances present in tailings waste and contemplating their reuse, valuable resources and energy can be conserved and environmental protection can be achieved.
