Classification of tailings by clay minerals and pore water chemistry as a basis for safe tailings disposal

Clay minerals are present in ores as either a primary or secondary weathering product and their colloidal behaviour in slurries impacts on the full metallurgical process from comminution until deposition into the tailings storage facility. Geotechnical classification of tailings has been based on parameters such as grain size, but this does not consider the rheological and plasticity. The use of methods such as determining the Atterberg limits is useful in initial characterisation, but does not consider other intrinsic components of active clay and chemical porewater.