Systems and methods for dewatering mine tailings

摘要

Systems and methods for dewatering mine tailings. The systems and methods include distributing a slurry of high permeability material on a sloped surface to define a high permeability layer and subsequently distributing a slurry of low permeability mine tailings on the high permeability layer to define a low permeability layer that is vertically above and in contact with the high permeability layer. The sloped surface defines a non-zero surface grade, and natural slopes of both the slurry of high permeability material and the slurry of low permeability mine tailings are within a threshold grade difference of the surface grade. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may include augmenting the slurry of high permeability material and/or augmenting the slurry of low permeability mine tailings to adjust the natural slope thereof.

主权项

1. A method of dewatering mine tailings, the method comprising:
adjusting at least one of (i) a natural slope of a slurry of high permeability material and (ii) a natural slope of a slurry of low permeability mine tailings such that the natural slope of the slurry of high permeability material and the natural slope of the slurry of low permeability mine tailings are within a threshold grade difference of a non-zero surface grade that is defined by a sloped surface; distributing the slurry of high permeability material on the sloped surface to define a high permeability layer; and distributing the slurry of low permeability mine tailings on the high permeability layer to define a low permeability layer, wherein a fluid permeability of the low permeability layer is less than a fluid permeability of the high permeability layer.