1986-12-08_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1977493 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: M1977493
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 12/8/1986
• Doc Name: METHODS AND COSTS FOR STABILIZING FINE-SIZED MINERAL WASTES
• From: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• To: DRMS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

12
differing environments. Tailing ponds in areas representative of markedly
varying climatic conditions and with differing mineral bases were planted
using different modifications suited to the areas. Small acreages in such
diverse environments as Durango, Colo. , White Pine, Mich. , Flat River, Mo. ,
and Mica, Wash. , have been successfully stabilized using the chemical-
vegetative procedure. Kennecott Copper Co. also has subsequently stabilized
an additional 100 acres in McGill.
COMPARATIVE COSTS
Mining companies have tested many of the outlined procedures for stabiliz-
ing and reclaiming mineral wastes. Stabilization costs using various proce-
dures are shown in table 1. In general, costs for reclaiming sloping dike
areas have been about 25 percent greater than costs for flat pond areas. The
costs given in table 1, updated for 1973, are estimated for a tailings accumu-
lation consisting of 80 and 20 percent, respectively, of pond and dike areas.
These costs, although broadly generalized, provide some comparison of differ-
ent methods.
TABLE 1. - Cost comparison of stabilization methodsl
Approximate
Type of stabilization Effectiveness Maintenance cost per acre,
dollars
Physical :
Water sprinkling. . . .. . . . . .. . .. ... Fair. .. . . . . . . Continual.. -
Slag (9-inch depth) :
Bypumping. .... . . . . . . ..... .. . .. Good.. . .. . . . . Moderate... $350- 450
Bytrucking, ... . .. . o_._.. . . . . ...do. . . . . . .. ..do. . .. . 950-1,050
Straw harrowing. .. . .. ... ... .... . . Fair... .. .. . . .. ..do. . . . . 40- 75
Bark covering. . . . . .... .. .. .. . . . . . Good.. ... . . . . . . ..do.. . . . 900-1,000
Country gravel and soil :
4-inch depth. . .. ... .. ... . .. . . .. Excellent. . . . Minimal. . . . 250- 600
12-inch depth. .. .. . .. . .. . .... . . . .. . .do. . . . .. .. ..do. . . . . 700-1,700
Chemical:
Elastomeric polymer. . . .. .. . .. . . . . Good. . . . .. . . . Moderate. . . 2300- 750
Lignosulfonate... . .. . . . . ... . . . . .. . .. . .do.. . . . . ... .do. . . . . 2250- 600
Vegetative:
4-inch soil cover and vegetation Excellent. . . . Minimal.. . . 300- 650
12-inch cover and vegetation 4 .. .. . .. . .do.. . . . . . .. .do. . . . . 750-1,750
Hydroseeding. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .do.. . . . . . . . .do. . . . . 200- 450
Matting . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. .do.. . . . . . . . .do. . . . . 2600- 750
Chemical-vegetative. . . . . .. . . .. . .. .. . . .do. . .do. . . 2120- 270
1Based on average tailings, costs could be revised upwards for acidic tailings
requiring limestone or other neutralizing additives.
aBureau-industry derived costs based upon cooperative stabilization efforts.
The remaining data were obtained from industry.
3Generally used on pond area rather than on dikes. Also, not as effective as
12-inch soil cover when tailings are excessively acidic or saline.
4Substantiated as the optimum economic depth of soil cover when reclaiming baux-
ite mined lands with soil covers ranging from 6 to 24 inches (6) although
a lesser soil cover may be satisfactory on other types of waste materials.
6Based on placing 3-foot-wide matting at 3-foot intervals over the seeded area.