Gindalbie Metals today announced a 15-year contract, worth $23 million a year, to logistics group BIS Industries to manage tailings at its Karara iron ore project in the Mid West.
The Karara project will use world-leading technology for the management of the dry tailings, differentiating it from conventional tailings dams or evaporation ponds.
The system will make use of a market- leading mobile stacking system to be provided by FL Smidth which is designed to handle up to 18.2 mtpa of tailings, or the equivalent tailings from the production of 10mtpa of magnetite concentrate.
The system will ultimately stack the tailings material up to 95 metres high (performed in three lifts) over a 20 year period
Gindalbie managing director Tim Netscher said Karara had incorporated a clarification process into the overall ore beneficiation process which allows the de-watering of tailings to produce tailings which are dry and inert, enabling the application of the tailings management system.
“This tailings strategy will cement our environmental credentials by simultaneously delivering several significant environmental benefits, including: reduced water requirements, improved rehabilitation potential, reduced disturbance footprint and minimise potential for groundwater contamination,” he said.
