Large-Scale Column Testing of Hypersaline Tailings

As part of a research project investigating cover systems on hypersaline tailings storage facilities in the arid climate of the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, a larg- scale column test was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to aid understanding of the water balance of the tailings profile under tailings deposition, dewatering an desiccation; and subsequent re-wetting by fresh water simulating rainfall, followed by further desiccation. Under dewatering and desiccation of the tailings in the laboratory column following both deposition and re-wetting, about 60% of the total water loss from the tailing was attributed to seepage. Under the higher evaporation environment in the field, minim; seepage would occur from the tailings post deposition, with nearly all of the cumulative watt loss from the tailings in the field being taken up by evaporation.