Successful EK dewatering of mine tailings at DeBeers Diamond Mines

DeBeers Diamond Mines are working with Electrokinetic to develop the use of electrokinetic (EK) technology as an alternative to their current waste dewatering processes.

The currently employed dewatering processes involve the use of displacement pumps to produce a slime or paste which is then pumped to a slimes or tailings dam. The EK solution further dewaters these slimes to convert this liquid to a solid drier cake which can then be conveyed to a tip, thus avoiding the costly pumping process.

Potential benefits of this new solution are:

• Reduction in waste volumes
• Significant water recovery
• Reduced power consumption
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Avoidance of need to manage tailings dam risks.
• A trial conducted on kimberlite tailings at De Beers, CTP, Kimberley, South Africa in April 2008, produced the following results:

Input 50% dry solids slimes

• Output 75% dry solids cake
• 49% by volume reduction in waste (recovered as water)
• Stackable cake; transportable by conveyor
• 40-60% reduction in power consumption
• Significant reduction in carbon footprint.

Electrokinetic seeks to further develop and apply this technology through collaborations within the mining and other waste industries.