Variability of shear yield stress – measurement and implications for mineral processing

Abstract

At high concentrations, mineral tailings exhibit solid-like behavior up to a critical shear stress, the shear yield stress (𝜏 𝑦 ), which must be exceeded before flow may occur. The magnitude of 𝜏 𝑦 has a significant influence upon a wide range of important mineral processing operating parameters, including pipeline pressure gradient, thickener operation and tailings beach slope, for example.