MATERIALS HANDLING
M
ines require water. At the same time, because many mine working areas are below the water table, the removal of water is a
major challenge. Water is critical for every mine site – without water the mine could not operate. Pumps are, therefore, one of the most used machines in mines today. Tis article will review the concepts of mine water and mine water management as well as the most common pumping applications. Te definition of mine water is that it is not a slurry, i.e. generally it is considered to contain <50g/1 of solids. Mine water can be categorised in two different streams. Te first is removal of water from the mine area (mine dewatering) and removal of water from the process (process dewatering). Mine water originates from several sources. Precipitation from rainwater and subsequent floodwater or melting snow generally affects above-ground mining, whereas underground mines are affected by subterranean waterways, ore bodies containing pockets of water, or long-term rise of the water table from precipitation. Water that is removed from a mine to gain or facilitate access to an ore body is known as mine water. Conversely, minerals processing requires the addition of water at various stages, and this can either be reclaimed water from within the mine area or, where not sufficiently available, brought in from external sources such as town water, river or sea water. Te management of water around the mine site is referred to as mine water management. Managing the water resources is a critical task and a major challenge in mining. lt is a never-ending process, and dewatering operations would normally continue even when a mine is operating at reduced capacity or temporarily shut down.
M MINE WATER
ANAGEMENT
Exploring how various pump technologies tackle the complex challenges of water operations at mining sites
Sulzer’s submersible dewatering pumps are ideal for mine sites
Keeping the outflow of mine water higher than the inflow is imperative to enable the mining of the mineral deposit. Consequently, large quantities of water may have to be pumped continuously during the operation and maintenance of the mine working areas. Mining companies are facing increasing
pressure to control depleting resources and manage the environmental impact of operations in compliance with stringent legislation. Te importance of well- designed and well-maintained mine water management cannot be stressed enough. lt plays a critical role in the mining industry today.
Wear-resistant end suction pumps are a popular option at mines
CHALLENGES IN DEWATERING Mine operations are harsh environments. Mine water can range from dirty water to
water containing mud, clay, grit, stones, etc., creating the need to handle an abrasive and sometimes corrosive product. lt is important for the mine planning
department to have an accurate estimate of the groundwater inflow so that the most technologies used are multi-stage deep well pumping or well suitable method for dewatering the mine can be designed. Whilst the mine area requires water removal, this may be scarce commodity in other parts of the site. Te overall water management design criteria may therefore include the installation of a water treatment plant to enable the recycling of water for reuse To determine the most suitable
dewatering method for a specific type of mine, the following challenges and conditions need to be considered.
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