When it comes to tailings and other excess waste, miners need dust-suppression technology that can handle the size of their operation.
Containing the by-products of ore separation – in either a liquid, solid state or as a collection of fine particles – tailings on a mine site may be harmful and a danger to personal health and the environment if risk management is not applied.
“Tailings storage facilities have the potential to be a significant source of dust,” Erizon national manager Ed Marshall said.
“This dust can then cause issues for on-site personnel, equipment, the environment and local communities, which is why at Erizon we have dust-suppression solutions that help mining operations to continue operating as safely and responsibly as possible.”
Erizon has a customer-focused partnership approach to administering its dust-suppression solutions.
Soil analyses are used in tandem with survey data from the area to confirm the suitability of the product applied, and to ensure the tailings will not compromise or react negatively with the applied dust management.
Focusing on minimising the disruption to facility operations while treating at-risk areas, Erizon has engineered a range of specialised tracked HydroRigs and HydroTrailers that can access areas traditional equipment can’t while also negating the need for expensive aerial application.
These solutions enable mining companies to make sure their dust-suppression solutions are comprehensive and maintained in the event of an unforeseen circumstance, like unpredictable weather.
“These vehicles are safer, more affordable and more accurate than conventional application methods,” Marshall said.
“Safety is a catalyst for innovation with Erizon and the most recent development with regards to dust-suppression technology is our modified snow groomer and HydroTrailer.
“Our modified snow groomer was born from the need to access some of the most demanding surfaces in Australia safely and efficiently. Initially built for extremely harsh environments and minimal compaction, we have adapted the technology to suit the Australian climate.
“The snow groomer is a powerful and capable machine that produces a PSI (pounds per square inch) of under one in its application of solution. No other vehicle we know can deliver the same level of land access to hydraulically apply dust-suppression solutions this effectively.”
Due to the nature of tailings facilities, the equipment and vehicles must be equipped to deal with unique – and often harsh – challenges that are faced at mining operations.
“All Erizon-owned vehicles are fully mine-spec-compliant, and the snow groomer is no exception,” Marshall said.
“Every measure is taken to ensure the safety of the spray technicians who operate the equipment and the environment.
“Pulled by the modified snow groomer, the HydroTrailer has a PSI of 4.8 and utilises its state-of-the-art track system that carries a 15,000L tank. It’s capable of spraying up to 100m using its high-powered dual cannons or localised using the spray bar.”
Supplying solutions beyond dust suppression, with the ability to provide additional support in areas such as erosion control and revegetation projects, Erizon can offer custom approaches that cater to the unique short- and long-term objectives of a mining operation.
With multiple products and application techniques, Erizon works to deliver greater levels of environmental compliance, decreased liability, a reduced effect on communities, and an overall decrease in environmental impact.
This feature appeared in the October issue of Australian Mining.