The phosphatic clay waste resulting from the phosphate ore beneficiation process exist initially as a 3-5 wt% solids slurry which is pumped to large impoundment areas for natural settling. The clay settling process takes as long as 25 years to reach a value of 40 wt% solids, which is generally deemed to be an acceptable solids content level. The clay settling areas currently cover an area of over 100 square miles, representing 40% of the land that has been mined.
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