Mine Waste Management
Waste management techniques employed by mining companies are routinely under intense scrutiny from local governments and the general public. Improper disposal methods and the resulting environmental damages have plagued the history of the mining industry. These actions have left a negative stigma associated with mining and associated waste materials. For this reason, many countries now require miners to prepare a complete mine waste storage proposal before a mining permit will be granted. To ensure long-term storage stability and prevent violating any regulations, mine waste is carefully managed at every step of the process.
The volume of waste from mining operations is high, and due to the large volumes of waste, environmental concerns will inevitably arise. In response, mining engineers have developed clever ways of waste management, making the mining industry one of the few that actively recycle their own waste. Overburden is used for reprocessing, contouring land, and as a construction aggregate for buildings and roads. Mine tailings are reused for producing clay, tiles, glass, and concrete. Mine water is treated and then used for dust and particulate suppression, agricultural/industrial use, and as a coolant.
Despite numerous recycling methods, the majority of mine waste is still stored in facilities or waste sites. The long-term storage of these facilities has become an important topic in modern mine closures. Various regulations have come to pass that require the waste to be stable for years, sometimes centuries. This requires engineers to develop storage methods to withstand catastrophic events like floods, heavy storms, and earthquakes.
Lasting Environmental Impact
The main environmental impacts of mining waste include the loss of land following its conversion to a tailings pond or waste storage area and the introduction of acidic runoff or other contaminated sediments into the local environment. The specific environmental impact of waste depends heavily on the material composition, type of ore mined, and the way the ore is processed. For example, gangue and tailings from mining heavy metals could have a high concentration of sulfides which could cause acid rock drainage to occur. Due to the many variables, mining operations will need to develop their own methods of waste disposal in accordance with regulations pertaining to the different types of waste they produce. However, it is worth noting that a large portion of mining waste is benign to the environment and is routinely used to revegetate or contour the land when the mining operation has been completed.
Unparallelled Satisfaction – EDDY TOUGH!
Another very important differentiator between the EDDY Pump and the AODD pump is that the EDDY Pump can pass extremely large solids; much larger solids than an AODD pump. Dimensionally, the internal liquid housing is sized such that an EDDY Pump can pass solids that are almost the size of the inlet and discharge ports of the pump. Along with this, the EDDY Pump can also pump media that contains longer stringy types of materials – this is something that AODD pumps cannot transfer. EXAMPLE, a 6-inch EDDY Pump can pass a 5.5 inch solid, which no other pump can do.
As you can see, the EDDY Pump is the smarter choice from performance, reliability, greater range of pumping solids-laden materials, and economical perspective than an AODD pump. When trying to make the challenging decision on which pump to choose for your demanding application, CHOOSE AN EDDY PUMP!
Best Applications – Industries Most Served
The EDDY Pump Corporation is a premier manufacturer of pumping and dredging equipment. If you are pumping or dredging slurry, high solids, extremely viscous material, paste, high abrasives (sand & gravel), and material filled with solids, then you found the best-suited product for the job. Go to: https://eddypump.com/ or Call Us!
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