Containment and dewatering of mine tailings with geotextile tubes at a Silver Mine in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

摘要

During the night of January 2, 2015, a pipeline connecting the primary mine tailings impoundment to a secondary settling pond ruptured causing water and tailings material to be discharged outside of the tailings containment system. Fast action by the mine personnel prevented any contamination of the water supply of the local community. The mine had been operating for less than one year under a Mexican federal government permit. The mine management immediately notified the Mexican Federal Authorities who suspended the operating permit and established the necessary remediation steps and criteria for the mining company to resume mining operations. These steps included completing a full remediation of the spill area and providing the federal authorities a complete tailings management redesign. The new design must incorporate an alternative tailing storage facility. The technically acceptable and most economical alternative solution accepted by the federal authorities was geotextile tube containment and dewatering technology. This innovative technology adaptation design would receive all tailings generated from the mining operation. This paper will detail the required testing, design, installation, and operation of the geotextile tube system and analyze the economic impact that allowed the silver mine to restore full mining operations within 60 days of the rupture.