Tailings Group

Tailings Group

The Monash University Tailings Group brings together researchers committed to identifying and developing sustainable improvements to conventional mine tailings storage, as well as innovative alternatives to conventional storage. Its current focus is on improvements to conventional mine tailings storage involving a suite of innovations that apply throughout the tailings storage facility (TSF) life cycle.

In addition, the group is engaged in early-stage research that is aimed at entirely removing the need for TSFs. This research is focused on re-use, as well as rendering tailings in more stable and manageable forms. The Monash University Tailings Group has both diversity and depth with respect to its research capabilities in sustainable minerals projects, and is committed to the fifteen principles of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.

Objectives

  • Reduce the dry fraction of tailings produced

    Alternative extraction techniques such as leaching

  • Reduce the wet fraction of tailings

    Dry separation techniques, Dewatering

  • Monitoring tailings storage facilities and predicting failures

    Embedded fibre optics

  • Reuse existing tailings and rehabilitate existing tailings storage facilities

    Reprocessing for critical minerals, reusing in products (artificial topsoils, building products), artificial topsoils to cover tailings storage facilities

  • Alternative tailings storage methods

    Co-mingling, dry-stacking

  • Safer designs for conventional tailings storage facilities

    Centre line and downstream lifts

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