Freeze–thaw and consolidation tests on Suncor mature fine tailings (MFT)

Proskin, S.A.; Sego, David C.; Alostaz, M.

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.05.007

Cited by 72 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Solidification of pore water physically rejects interstitial mineral and ionic impurities from the ice crystal network towards spaces already occupied by mineral solids, which forces their aggregation. As the network grows, the corresponding volumetric expansion further compresses these aggregates and overconsolidates them, while increasing the average pore size (Proskin, et al, 2010). Therefore upon subsequent thawing, the entrained water experiences increased permeability and seepage can occur under gravity that leads to an overall reduction in sludge volume.…”

Section: Freeze-thawmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice

Wang

Harbottle

Liu

et al. 2014

Minerals Engineering

344

169

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Highlights Presented facts on escalating generation of fine mineral tailings worldwide.  Overview of coal, alumina, oil sands, and base metals tailings characteristics.  Reviewed theoretical and industrial developments for tailings management.  Determined numerous knowledge gaps between current theories and practices.  Identified opportunities for improvement towards more sustainable practices. Graphical AbstractEvolution of fine mineral tailings treatment objectives.Figures "Flocculated solids" and "Stackable solids" are adopted from Alamgir, et al. (2012), permission pending. The last figure "Reclaimed land" is adopted from Golder Associates (2009), permission pending. AbstractThe mining industry produces fluid fine mineral tailings on the order of millions of tonnes each year, with billions of tonnes already stored globally. This trend is expected to escalate as demand for mineral products continues to grow with increasingly lower grade ores being more commonly exploited by hydrometallurgy. Ubiquitous presence and enrichment of fine solids such as silt and clays in fluid fine mineral tailings prevent efficient solid-liquid separation and timely re-use of valuable process water. Long-term storage of such fluid waste materials not only incurs a huge operating cost, but also creates substantial environmental liabilities of tailings ponds for mining operators. This review broadly examines current theoretical understandings and prevalent industrial practices on treating fine mineral tailings for greater water recovery and reduced environmental footprint of mining operations.

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Section: Freeze-thawmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice

Wang

Harbottle

Liu

et al. 2014

Minerals Engineering

344

169

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“…The volume increase from water to ice makes stress on the surrounding soil particles and pushes them moving out of pore space, even separated each other. In addition, freezing always leads to some joints and fissures due to shrinkage (Othman and Benson 1993, Proskin et al 2010. Following the thawing, the removed finer particles and fissures tend to re-position to their original locations.…”

Section: Results From Uutc Testsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Mechanical Behavior of Compacted Fine-Grained Soil

Zhao

et al. 2012

Cold Regions Engineering 2012

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A large amount of work has been conducted to study the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the geotechnical properties of various soils. But less laboratory work has been focused on the effect of number of freeze-thaw cycles and on quantitative relationship between mechanical behavior and freeze-thaw cycles. This study undertook a series of tests including freeze-thaw (FT) (after 0, 2, 5, 11, 21, and 31 freeze-thaw cycles respectively), unconfined compression (UC) and unconsolidated-undrained triaxial compression (UUTC) tests. These tests aim to assess the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical behavior of compacted finegrained soil, to establish correlation between the mechanical behavior and freeze-thaw cycles, and to facilitate the prediction of changes in geotechnical properties of soil. Freeze-thaw cycles notably influence the stress-strain curve reducing the UC strength by 11%, elastic modulus by 32%, and cohesion by 84% after 31 freeze-thaw cycles in comparison with those soils unexposed to freeze-thaw. The angle of internal friction is slightly increased by 1 to 2°. The weakening and deteriorating effects of freeze-thaw on the compacted fine-grained soil are confirmed. They can provide a scientific basis for design consideration of cold-region infrastructures, and for countermeasures against frost heave and thaw settlement.KEY WORDS: Mechanical behavior, freeze-thaw, geotechnical properties, fine-grained soil, frost heave and thaw settlement.

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“…Many efforts involving physical, chemical, and biological means have been made to consolidate and enable the reclamation of fluid from tailings (Li et al, 2003;Matthews et al, 2002;Mpofu et al, 2004;Proskin et al, 2010;Sworska et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2010). However, the present technologies are environmentally unfriendly or economically unfeasible.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%