An Alternative Technology to Obtain Dewatered Mine Tailings: Safe and Control Environmental Management of Filtered and Thickened Copper Mine Tailings in Chile

An alternative process to obtain a high degree of dewatering tailings that produces a high-density product is presented in this article. This technology involves the combination of tailings particle grain size classification by hydrocyclones (HC) and tailings dewatering by horizontal vibratory screens (HVS). It makes it possible to dewater tailings to a high grade of performance. This alternative technology (HC-HVS) involves the recovery of water from the coarse fraction of tailings (sands) through two hydrocycloning stages, followed by a dewatering stage of cycloned tailings sands on horizontal vibratory screens, to reduce moisture content and turn it into a “cake”. The resulting coarse fraction tailings are easily transported to a dry stack tailings storage facility (TSF). The fine fraction of tailings (slimes) can be dewatered on thickener equipment to recover part of the process water. Finally, this article describes the main benefits of this alternative dewatered tailings technology with an emphasis on (i) dewatering technology evolution over the last 17 years; (ii) process stages features; (iii) pilot test results; (iv) tailings properties analysis (such as particle grain size distribution, fines content) and (v) lessons learned about the experience gained in the operation of Mantos Blancos case study with dry stack tailings storage facility.