Using an Old Tailings Dam to Build a New Tailings Area 2

[erikbecks]

Our company recently purchased an old mining license with an old tailings dam perched in the valley. We would really like to get rid of the dam altogether and minimize all risk. We are currently auger sampling the dam to see if there is a valuable resource that we can add into our mill at a future date. However, there is also talk of using the material to construct the New Tailings Area. I was thinking we could use it in the transition zone between the random fill zone and the sand drainage zone. I have been trying to do some research online but no luck, does anyone have suggestions or related links?

Cheers

 

[PBroad]

Given the unknown foundations and potential weak spots I'd suggest hydraulically slucing the old dam, using water cannon and building a new dam.

if the old dam is coarser than your new tailings then I would agree with placing the old tailings via spigots or cyclones to build the new dam walls.

 

[Dirtguy4587]

To make this determination, you really need some more information - what is the grain size distribution of the material, what are its compaction characteristics, etc. I'm certain it could be used as part of a new dam - providing you can be selective enough in the excavation of the old structure (i.e. not mixing the zones etc.).

 

[erikbecks]

Dirtyguy4587, we are in the process of surveying a grid system over the tailings so we can start auger sampling... once we start I will grab samples and test the materials for mechanical characteristics to see if they would be suitable in constructing the new tailings area if we can not run the tailings through the mill to recover residual metals. Thank you for the help!