Characteristics of Iron Ore Tailing Slime in India and Its Test for Required Pond Size

The physical and chemical nature of the tailingslime depends on milling operations and water contentin the effluent. The characteristics of the tailingsdictate the type of disposal facility required.Characteristics of the tailings, transportation frombeneficiation plants and disposal system are described.Studies on tailing slime have been carried out at ironore mines in Orissa and the results are discussed. Thetailings contain toxic elements and find their wayinto the water environment. Sedimentation test was carriedout on tailings and the area required for tailing pondwas found to be 3155 m² in comparison to10 000 m² obtained from the use of an empiricalequation. Provision of tailing pond for the disposalof tailings is a conservation of resources in additionto pollution control, and sedimentation test is essentialfor required pond size calculation.