A method including excavating a channel (128, Figs. 8-10) into a tailings lagoon containing solid tailings 80 from the shore 70, and floating a pontoon 10 in the excavated channel, the method involving using water to create a tailings slurry and pumping the slurry away using submersible pump 50/60 mounted on pontoon. The water may seep into the channel from the surrounding tailings or may be pumped in via pipes 120. The submersible pump(s) 50/60 may include water jets 89 to aid tailing slurry production. A method of excavating a hole in a lagoon is also disclosed, wherein once excavated water which enters the hole is pumped out to dewater the lagoon. The same ponton may perform this method once a channel is complete to the centre of the lagoon, by gradually lowing the submersible pumps while pumping slurry. Removing water from the lagoon reduces risk of dam rupture by reducing or removing hydrostatic pressure. The pontoon may be operated remotely form the shore to avoid personnel entering a potentially dangerous lagoon.
METHOD OF EXCAVATING A TAILINGS LAGOON
2020-08-27
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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