ABSTRACT
Worldwide, much mine fill is prepared by desliming mill tailing and transporting and placing it underground as a pulp of around 70 mass % solids, using centrifugal pumps where necessary to aid gravity. Indeed, such practice is so widespread that it may be regarded as conventional fill practice.
Where mill grind is relatively coarse, fill preparation usually presents few problems. However, where mill grind is relatively fine, say 30 or more mass % minus 10um, problems are perceived and current practive is not optimum, so scope exists for improvement.
This paper is presented in two parts. The first lists and discusses the various criteria to be considered in preparation of deslimed mill tailing hydraulic fill, including pulp density of deslimed mill tailing product, permeability performance with fill cementing agents and percentage recovery of fill from tailing. The fine mill grind situation is stressed throughout.
The second part of the paper reviews the various procedures and plant available for fill preparation from tailing. Accent is naturally on hydrocyclones and cyclone configurations and circuitry. Other less conventional approaches are also considered.
