Evaporation behaviour of tailings

[Truncated] The objective of the research described in this thesis was to develop an understanding of tailings evaporation behaviour and to establish theoretical or empirical bases for estimation of evaporation from tailings. This enhances the ability to predict the consolidation and desiccation behaviour of a tailings deposit, especially in arid areas, such as found in Western Australia ( WA ). The prediction of tailings behaviour is invaluable to disposal management because this allows various disposal strategies to be assessed.
Evaporation from a tailings surface is affected by a number of factors. The factors are salinity, hydraulic and deformation properties of the tailings, and climatic conditions. Saline tailings are very common in the WA goldfields due to the use of saline groundwater for ore processing. Accumulation of salt and formation of a salt crust on the tailings surface m a y reduce the evaporation rates from the tailings. Clayey tailings often develop shrinkage cracks, and these m a y increase the evaporation rates from the tailings. The effect of such factors must be considered in predicting the behaviour of evaporation from the tailings correctly.