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Practical Importance of Tailings for Cemented Paste Backfill

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Paste Tailings Management

Abstract

Mineral processing methods, such as flotation, are used to treat low-grade ores from mining operations; however, a significant amount of tailings are then generated (typically 95–98% of the feed ore). Therefore, mineral processing must also be essentially regarded as a “waste/tailings management” project (Ercikdi et al. 2012). The disposal, stability and safety of tailings, and their effects on water and soil, are important technical and environmental problems. For example, sulphide (i.e. pyritic) tailings can lead to the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) when they are disposed under atmospheric conditions. This results in the release/mobility of heavy metals, such as arsenic (As), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) with the concomitant pollution of water resources and soil (Fig. 2.1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mining Engineering Department, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080, Turkey

    Bayram Ercikdi, Ferdi Cihangir, Ayhan Kesimal & Haci Deveci

Authors
  1. Bayram Ercikdi
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  2. Ferdi Cihangir
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  3. Ayhan Kesimal
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  4. Haci Deveci
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Correspondence to Bayram Ercikdi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri A.S., Rize, Turkey

    Erol Yilmaz

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Mamadou Fall

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Ercikdi, B., Cihangir, F., Kesimal, A., Deveci, H. (2017). Practical Importance of Tailings for Cemented Paste Backfill. In: Yilmaz, E., Fall, M. (eds) Paste Tailings Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39682-8_2

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