Removing water from mineral slurries, concentrates, and tailings to improve material handling, recovery, transport, and environmental performance.
Processes within Dewatering
Thickening
Uses gravity settling to increase slurry solids concentration while recovering clarified process water. Thickener design and operation balance underflow density, overflow clarity, flocculant use, capacity, and water recovery.
Clarification
Removes suspended solids from process water to produce a clearer overflow for reuse, treatment, or discharge. Settling, coagulation, flocculation, or filtration may be used to meet process-water quality and environmental requirements.
Filtering
Separates liquid from solids through a porous medium to produce dewatered cake and recover filtrate. Filter selection and operating conditions determine cake moisture, washing efficiency, throughput, and suitability for transport or further treatment.
Dry Stacking
Places filtered, dewatered tailings in compacted stacks to reduce water use and limit impoundment needs. The approach can improve water recovery and reduce some risks associated with conventional slurry tailings storage, depending on site conditions.
