Tailings storage data sheet

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Explanatory notes for completing the tailings storage datasheet

The following notes are provided to assist you in completing the tailings storage data sheet.

1. Paddock (ring-dyke), cross-valley, side-hill, in-pit, depression, waste fill etc.
2. Number of cells operated using the same decant arrangement.
3. Internal for paddock (ring-dyke) type, internal plus external catchment for other facilities.
4. End of pipe (fixed), end of pipe (movable) single spigot, multi-spigots, cyclone, CTD (central thickened discharge) etc.
5. Gravity feed decant, pumped central decant, floating pump, wall/side mounted pump etc.
6. Clay, synthetic etc.
7. See list below for ore process method.
8. Tonnes of solids per year.
9. Maximum wall height above the ground level (AGL), not AHD or RL.
10. TDS means total dissolved solids.
11. WAD CN means weak acid dissociable cyanide.
12. All constituents occurring at concentrations of 1% or greater of the tailings by mass should be reported.

In addition, licensees should report those constituents occurring at lower concentrations but where the nature of the compound or its concentration results in potential for environmental or health impacts.

The main components of the tailings can be assessed through assays of either the waste tailings material or of the original ore body itself and analysis of the liquid fraction. Licensees are asked to focus upon those components of the tailings with the most potential to impact upon the environment.

Elements that may be significant include:

13. Specify the units of measurement for each compound.

Operations producing sulphidic mine wastes should assess the potential for sulphide oxidation resulting in acid generation. An outline of current methods including the net acid producing potential (NAPP) test and net acid generation (NAG) test, is provided in Environment Australia (1997).

Ore process methods

The ore process methods may be recorded as follows:

Page last updated: 01 Dec 2021