Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Carleton University
$55,000.00
Methodology for prediction of void ratio in thickened tailings deposition
FY 2010-11
Summary
The deposition of thickened tailings is an attractive alternative for mine waste management. Conventionally, tailings are deposited as a slurry, which requires the construction of very large dams. Unfortunately, these dams have often failed, resulting in economic and ecological devastation of the areas downstream. Thickened tailings eliminates this risk of catastrophic failure, by dewatering the tailings to the point that they exhibit some strength immediately after deposition, allowing them to be stacked at a gentle slope. The strength of the tailings may increase over time due to further densification from settling and desiccation. Sufficient desiccation has to happen in order for enough strength to develop to maintain stability of the stack.
This proposal aims to develop a methodology for determining the required drying time for a deposited layer of thickened tailings, that can be immediately transfered to industry upon completion of the project.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
385905-2009
Name nom
Simms, Paul
Department département
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
23
Institution établissement
Carleton University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2009
Award amount
55000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
202
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Mineral resources ( prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
Area of application fr
Ressources minérales (prospection, exploration, mines, extraction et préparation)
Research subject code
1002
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Geotechnical engineering (including engineering geology)
Research subject fr
Géotechnique (y compris génie géologique)
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Methodology for prediction of void ratio in thickened tailings deposition
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The deposition of thickened tailings is an attractive alternative for mine waste management. Conventionally, tailings are deposited as a slurry, which requires the construction of very large dams. Unfortunately, these dams have often failed, resulting in economic and ecological devastation of the areas downstream. Thickened tailings eliminates this risk of catastrophic failure, by dewatering the tailings to the point that they exhibit some strength immediately after deposition, allowing them to be stacked at a gentle slope. The strength of the tailings may increase over time due to further densification from settling and desiccation. Sufficient desiccation has to happen in order for enough strength to develop to maintain stability of the stack.
This proposal aims to develop a methodology for determining the required drying time for a deposited layer of thickened tailings, that can be immediately transfered to industry upon completion of the project.
