The disposal of tailings and minewater sludge using geotextile dewatering techniques

The Stratoni Mines complex is located in the Chalkidiki region of Greece and has developed an innovative method of tailings management using large-scale geotextile tubes for the dewatering of tailings fines and minewater sludge. The system has allowed the mine to develop an aggressive mine plan designed to offset falling metal prices without significant capital expenditure. aper will describe the trials completed during 2001 and 2002 and the implementation of system achieving synergy with the rest of the mine. This is the first time the technology has been directly applied to the dewatering and subsequent management and disposal of minerals industry waste.