TRANSACTION PAPER

Does thickening save water?

A.J. Vietti^I; J.C.J. Boshoff^II; A. Cope^III

^IPaterson & Cooke, South Africa
^IISRK Consulting, South Africa
^IIIAnglo Platinum Limited, South Africa

SYNOPSIS

A pilot plant paste thickening campaign was conducted at the Anglo Platinum Limited Mogalakwena South Concentrator plant in South Africa in order to determine the water saving capability of P&TT technology. In the process a simple water consumption model was developed for estimating the overall water consumption of the mine. The model indicates that for the Mogalakwena tailings, significant water savings are achieved by discharging thickened tailing directly to the TSF but only at densities where free water release at the TSF is close to zero.

Keywords: Paste, thickened tailings, thickener, water savings, water consumption

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