Transportation of about 0.4 Mtonnes of waste rock (-60 mm) and tailings (-4mm), with subsequent co-disposal, has been tested in a large-scale once-through pumping facility, with focus on energy efficiency, operational reliability, wear, disposal properties and environmental issues. The results showed that pumping of a mixture of tailings and waste rock may be an energy-efficient means of transportation. The pipeline friction losses (expressed in m of slurry) at solids concentrations by volume of 20 to 25% was about twice the corresponding water losses. The corresponding reduction factors in pump head and efficiency were in the range of 20 to 30%. Furthermore, the co-disposal method seems to produce a deposit with good properties in terms of stability and landscaping possibilities. The economic feasibility of a co-disposal system based on pumping will, however, be governed also by other factors, such as maintenance.
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