Tailings facilities
tell a story to the public about how the mining industry manages its activities.
They also create a risk that must be managed for the long term. All the
knowledge and technology is available to safely design, build, operate and
decommission tailings facilities.

Tailings at Waikato
North Head Minesite are pumped as slurry, over long distances and against high
static discharge heads to backfill the excavated area. WNH is, under the mining
licence, obliged to reconcile the topography of mined areas to the closest
possible resemblance of the original terrain. The active tailings areas are
located near main operational facilities and detailed plans and procedures have
been developed to ensure a safe and continuous operation.

The
concentration plant is designed as two identical and independent plants. Each
plant has its own tailings slurry pumping system.

This
paper represents a general overview of the tailings disposal practice at WNH
mine site. It discusses tailings delivery, construction and water
management.