Mining and mineral processing is expected by society and obliged by law to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion, minimising the impact on and avoiding damage to the environment. Substantial efforts by the industry, as well as by process and equipment designers have resulted in many innovative developments, which show that operating in an environmentally responsible manner can be achieved in a cost-effective way. This paper showcases five emerging equipment best practices in industry including installation examples._x000D_
Flip-flow screening machines are proven worldwide in the dry classification of coal and other minerals, reducing the size of beneficiation plants whilst reducing energy, water demand and media consumption. They also allow the screening of wet/sticky materials not able to be sized using conventional screens._x000D_
The belt press filter is a small fraction of the operating and capital cost of alternative dry tailings technologies. This gives operators who must dry their tailings a competitive advantage and makes such green' operations much more sustainable. The filtercake is disposed with other plant rejects, eliminating the need for tailings dams to be constructed and thus also often increasing mine reserves. Mining applications include coal tailings, sand tailings, sinter plant waste and power station fly ash._x000D_
Screen-scroll and vibrating centrifuges are widely used in the coal, potash and salt industries to dewater the product to low surface moistures._x000D_
Inclined plate Lamella separators are used for toxic water clarification and/or sludge thickening in many downstream metal industries with the underflow often dewatered in a belt filter press. Such low cost, high capacity thickeners could also be used instead of conventional thickeners at smaller mines._x000D_
The simple and reliable continuous washing upward flow (CWUF) sand filters have been used for treatment of waste water from coal preparation plants and steel works as well as in the worldwide production of potable water. The filtered waste water from mining processes can then either be reused or discharged from site. Other installations include cleaning mine water to prevent the blocking of dust suppression spray nozzles._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Mathewson, D, Norris, R and Dunne, M, 2006. Cost-effective dry screening, dewatering and water treatment, in Proceedings Green Processing 2006, pp 125-132 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).