Filtered tailings adds value in cost competitive industries

There is an industry perception that filtered tailings can be a costly process that many operations may find difficult to sustain. While undoubtedly adding equipment to any process raises cost concerns, case histories are presented of several small scale operations in the USA and other global locations that have justified these costs, and proceeded to install and operate filtered tailings. Typically the major driver for investment is the elimination of wet tailings storage allowing a smaller footprint, reduced operating cost and access to water in addition to compliance with ever more stringent local environmental obligations.