Comparative Study on the Sedimentation Rules of Flotation Tailing and Natural Clay

Sedimentation column test is adopted to study the natural sedimentation rules of floatation full tailing and dredged sediment at storage yard. The study shows that, the double logarithmic coordinates of sedimentation speed and time could be used to divide the sedimentation process of tailing and dredged sediment into the stage of natural sedimentation and the stage of consolidation under deadweight; and at the stage of natural sedimentation, the duration is 3h and 4h respectively. Along with the extension of sedimentation time, the water content and void ratio of tailing and dredged sediment will decrease gradually, and then tend to be stable; however, things are the contrary for density. Meanwhile, the sedimentation column test proves that tailing and dredged sediment have similar sedimentation property.