Uchalinsky Mining and Processing Integrated Works JSC (Uchaly, Russia):

Akhmediyanov I. Kh., Technical Director, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: upr_akhmedjyanov_ih@ugok.ru

Krasavin V. P., Deputy Technical Director for Mining
Danilov O. N., Head of Department for Environmental Protection and Waterworks

LLC «Shakhtostroitelnoe upravlenie» (Mezhozerniy, Russia):
Grigorev V. V., Executive Officer, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Magnitogorsk State Technical University (Magnitogorsk, Russia):
Kalmykov V. N., Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Since the capacity of the existing tailing pond of the Uchalinsky Mining and Processing Integrated Works has been depleted, the problem of finding new sites for tailings storage in the industrially developed region is solved by way of using the stripped area of the Uchalinsky open-pit mine scheduled for completion in 2015. The huge stripped area (150 million m³) offers a room for tailings storage for a long term (40 years) and simultaneously allows addressing issues of land reclamation. Analysis of the prevailing mine-technical situation and the lack of experience gained in tailings stockpiling in combination with underground mining operations showed impossibility of tailings storage in the stripped area of the open-pit mine without pre-thickening in view of the numerous hydraulic connections between the open-pit and underground mines and due to high permeability of the tailings. Aimed at finding optimum parameters of the artificial mass made of tailings placed in the bowl of the open-pit, physico-mechanical properties of slurry were studied, namely, porosity modulus of deformation, internal friction angle, viscosity, spreading and their relationship with the basic influencing factors that allow estimation of such properties of the tailings mass as its moisture content, density, deformation and water loss. On this basis, the following design solutions have been developed:
—construction of a protective pillar 109 m thick to prevent the thickened product from entering underground roadways;
—generation of a drainage system including underground water drainage, water discharge holes and filtering screen;
—construction of watertight partitions to seal off underground roadways.
The use of the stripped area of the open-pit mine allows pruning payment for waste emplacement by 44 RUB/t and saves 274 MRUB/yr.

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