The existing tailings facility at the mine has been built to the top of the starter wall to date based on a previous design. We were contracted to design the facility from the top of the starter wall up to the end height of 15 m. The tailings storage facility (TSF) divides into three segments of which segment one is now full with no free board.
Haphazard previous deposition has severely curtailed the methodology of raising the tailings facility using the copper tailings. Zutari was consulted in order to provide methodology and routine to the deposition so that the lifts can be placed safely without the loss of structural integrity of the tailings. The initial raise will be by placement of calcrete to 1.5 m around the entire perimeter in order to provide quick time extra volume for the deposition of the tailings.
Thereafter and once the rotation of spigots is rationalised then the lifts to the end height will be by the use of the deposited copper tailings internally and after a period of desiccation. This will allow greater safety and stability of the facility. The raise of the tailings facility for the Boseto Copper Mine, impacts the integrity of the TSF through its life span of 10 to 15 years.
*The Aurecon Africa business has been officially renamed Zutari as at 21 July 2020. Zutari acquired Aurecon Middle East on 20 November 2020.
