Harmony Kalgold is an open-pit mine situated 55km southwest of Mahikeng in the Northwest Province of South Africa. Harmony contacted Soil & Dust Solutions, the local agent for Soil Solutions, for a cost-effective environmentally compliant sustainable solution for dust suppression on their Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).
The management of Mine Tailings Storage Facilities is a critical part of any mining operation and forms one of its largest future liabilities. Therefore, effective management is critical long after the mining operations have ceased, the Tailings Storage Facilities remain.
To minimize current and future liabilities, Soil & Dust Solutions has devised a number of specialized applications for use on Mine Tailings Storage Facilities, which will reduce water usage, eliminate dust and help prevent erosion.
Project Description: The Tailings Storage Facility was treated in conjunction with our partner Hydromulch using a Finn Hydroseeding machine equipped with a specialized spray nozzle to apply the Engineered Base Stabilizer (EBS).
Result: The treatment of the TSF will provide a long-term sustainable solution with respect to dust suppression, without the continuous use of water or expensive and ineffective irrigation systems. Effective Tailings Management will ensure decreased liability, environmental compliance, a reduced effect on the neighbouring community, and an overall decreased environmental impact.
Benefits of Mine Tailings application with EBS include the following:
- Product application without disruption to the integrity of the TSF structure
- Elimination of expensive and maintenance-intensive irrigation systems
- Substantial reduction in water usage
- PM10 and PM2.5 compliant in terms of dust suppression
- Decreased liability along with complete environmental compliance
- Improved community relations
- Safer and healthier working environment
- Specialized application equipment provided by Hydromulch
EBS COMPLETELY ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR EXPENSIVE AND MAINTENANCE INTENSIVE SHADE CLOTH BARRIERS OR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS – NO FURTHER WATER USE FOR DUST SUPPRESSION IS REQUIRED.
Our solutions, which are customized to incorporate the current design and accessibility of the Tailings Facility, allow for specialized effective application procedures and methodology. One Application is all that will be required and can last up to 10 years.
