Responsible management of tailings dams and mine waste
May 2007Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The safe and responsible long term management of mine waste is one of the areas in the South African mining industry that Endress+Hauser plays a role in by providing the instrumentation necessary to monitor this waste.
Tailings, the refuse from ore processing, are generally disposed of in tailing or containment dams. Mine waste is divided into three areas, namely ore and mine rock, tailings, and mill operation waste which includes reagents and items used in treatment processes.
The monitoring of the waste is accomplished by monitoring the containment dams, seepage and open channel or closed pipe water flow.
Dam monitoring systems consist of level controls, inclinometers, settlement gauges, seepage flow monitoring and temperature recording. Dam water levels are monitored by suspending hydrostatic sensors at intervals over the dam wall. The Endress+Hauser Waterpilot FMX167 with integrated PT100 and temperature transmitter TMT181 are ideal for this type of application. The system will also monitor liquid levels and temperatures in overflow wells and dammed waste pools.
The benefits of using simple level control in dam monitoring, include early warning against sudden rising levels, automatic switch on or off of overflow discharge pumps, and overflow is automatically channelled to secondary containment walls.
For effective seepage analysis and management, assessment includes seepage into groundwater, considering of water chemistry and acid generating potential. Endress+Hauser offers a full range of effluent monitoring and water analysis sensors, such as turbidity and dissolved oxygen sensors, BOD, COD and water conductivity sensors and analysers for aluminium, copper, iron, lead, etc.
Effluent flows from most mining processes through pipes and channels into the containment basins. It is important to measure the waste characteristics such as pH, conductivity and turbidity, as well as the volumes of waste produced. Endress+Hauser's large range of flow devices are ideal for this. The company offers flanged closed pipe electronic flowmeters, including the Promag 55S magnetic flowmeter with rubber liners for abrasive media; the Promass 83 coriolis flowmeter with integral slurry density and temperature measurement; and the Prowirl 72 meter for recycled steam and compressed air flow measurement.
The complete range of Endress+Hauser instrumentation provides simple monitoring, inspection and reporting techniques for a range of applications within the mining industry.
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