Patent · US Expired

Method for capping mine waste and tailing deposits

US6004069A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
13References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 1997
Grant dateDec 21, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 29, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S210/901
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for providing a composite capping cover for maintaining the surface of a sulphide bearing tailing and mine waste containing deposit moist thereby substantially eliminating oxidation of the sulphidic particulate in the deposit and the formation of heavy metal salts. The moisture is provided by atmospheric precipitation. The composite capping cover comprises a fine particulate layer, a fine-granular particulate layer and a coarse-granular particulate layer, the particle sizes of the particles making up the individual the layers having been selected such that the hydraulic conductivity of the layers increases with successive layers while the matric suction value within the layers decreases.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.