Tecnologías emergentes para disposición de relaves: oportunidades en Colombia

Translated title of the contribution: Emerging technologies for tailings disposal: opportunities for Colombian practice

Lorena N. Beltrán-Rodríguez, Joan M. Larrahondo, Diego Cobos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

While Colombia is a country with long mining tradition, expertise and regulation on large-scale mining-waste disposal facilities are scarce. This article describes the current state of the practice of mining waste management in Colombia, particularly tailings, as well as the opportunities and limitations towards the adoption of modern technologies. The traditional practices for tailings management around the world were reviewed, as well as its technical and regulatory aspects in Colombia. In addition, recent technical literature was studied relating emerging technologies for tailings management, focusing on thickening, filtration, cemented-paste backfilling, “piggy-backing”, and submarine tailings disposal. Furthermore, the Colombian regulatory and technological environment was analyzed considering the possible implementation of modern technologies. It is concluded that such emerging technologies minimize mining-project footprints compared to conventional disposal structures, though submarine disposal should currently be avoided. Colombia urgently requires to educate skilled professionals able to tackle the modern massive management of mining waste.
Translated title of the contributionEmerging technologies for tailings disposal: opportunities for Colombian practice
Original languageSpanish
JournalBoletín de Ciencias de la Tierra
Issue number44
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 Jul 2018

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Emerging technologies for tailings disposal: opportunities for Colombian practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this