H.K. Mittal is a principal of H.K Mittal and Associates, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. H.K. Mittal discusses tailings pond design specific to uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. The tailings ponds specifications come from over forty years of designing and operational experience with tailings pit ponds in Saskatchewan. Specific tailings pit design (a pervious round) and specific requirements for the tailings themselves (they must be consolidated) informs the operation of the mine especially during winter. Winter operations result in frozen tailings which are a liability since they must be thawed to get full consolidation of the tailings. These problems have led to disposal of the tailings underwater and then the surface water and the tailings are dewatered. Once the surface layer has dried down, a filter cloth is laid and then surface fill is spread while the surface layer is still frozen late in the spring. Highlights of the current practices are presented in the paper associated with this presentation.
H.K. Mittal's presentation was part of the Tailings and Mine Waste Conference, Banff, Alberta on November 3-6, 2013.
