Green Low-Carbon Technology for Metalliferous Minerals

Metalliferous minerals play a central role in the global economy. They will continue to provide the raw materials we need for industrial processes. Significant challenges will likely emerge if the climate-driven green and low-carbon development transition of metalliferous mineral exploitation is not managed responsibly and sustainably. Green low-carbon technology is vital to promote the development of metalliferous mineral resources shifting from extensive and destructive mining to clean and energy-saving mining in future decades. Global mining scientists and engineers have conducted a lot of research in related fields, such as green mining, ecological mining, energy-saving mining, and mining solid waste recycling, and have achieved a great deal of innovative progress and achievements. This Special Issue intends to collect the latest developments in the green low-carbon mining field, written by well-known researchers who have contributed to the innovation of new technologies, process optimization methods, or energy-saving techniques in metalliferous minerals development

Performance Comparison between Neutralization Tailings and Flotation Tailings Used for Backfill Mix and Mechanism Analysis

A comparison test of different tailings used for underground backfill was conducted, using neutralized tailings from BIOX and flotation tailings of Jinfeng Mine. Laboratory comparison test results show that, with neutralized tailings, when the cement dosage is at 19%, backfill UCS after 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days are 105%–163%, 80%–102%, and 33%–43%, respectively, which are higher than those of flotation tailings. When the cement dosage is at 12%, backfill UCS after 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days are 58%–77%, 50%–60%, and 28%–51%, respectively, which are higher than those of flotation tailings. Slurry fluidity of neutralized tailings is lower than that of flotation tailings, while, in these two tailings, the difference of slump and diffusivity values is less than 6%, which is not a significant difference in slurry fluidity. The reason for neutralized tailings showing higher UCS is as follows: during backfill curing, neutralization tailings produce abundant crystals of CaSO4·2H2O in interlaced structure which helps in combining aggregates closely; CaSO4·2H2O hydrates with C3A C4AF contained in the cement and forms clavate cement bacillus which works as a micro reinforcing steel bar. The test proved that neutralized tailings are more optimal for backfilling

Numerical Investigation of Evolution Characteristics of Ultrafine Tailings Backfill Slurry Flow Considering Slurry Temperature

To analyze the effect of slurry temperature on Ultrafine tailings backfill slurry (UTBS) flow characteristics, a new comprehensive Reynolds number (Rc) model considering slurry temperature for determining the flow pattern of UTBS was proposed. The flow evolution characteristics of UTBS considering the effect of slurry temperature were investigated under the condition of coupled multi-physical fields. UTBS flow velocity field was divided into shear zone and structural flow zone. With the flow proceeded, the area of the structural flow zone decreased. Increasing slurry temperature could generate more gel, which could wrap the tailings particles and reduce the resistance loss. When transport flow increased, the interaction between UTBS particles and friction increased, which caused the resistance loss to increase. Influenced by "non-uniform interference settlement" and the law of tailing sand particle transport, the resistance loss increased with the increase of stowing gradient. This paper suggests that the mine could choose a transport flow rate of 220 m3/h and stowing gradient of 5 as a reference for pipeline transport