Concrete Plant for the Repurposing of Copper Mining Tailings

Mining tailings are an environmentally harmful byproduct of mining operations, producing particulate matter and having the potential of leaching toxic material to groundwater. Because one mining site alone can produce over 100,000 tons of tailings per day, an efficient management strategy is needed. This design project seeks to safely repurpose 1000 tons (907 tonnes) of tailings per day for the production of concrete, converting the hazardous waste to a value-add product beneficial to society. Through an analytical process comparing various alternatives based on cost, environmental impact, safety, lifespan, and ease of operation, a dry-batch concrete plant was selected as the optimal design. The produced concrete will substitute tailings for 60d). The project is estimated to have a value of $60 million at the end of its 20-year lifespan. The Design Team's, 19-ASU-4D, goal for the project is to contribute to closing the loop on the circular economy, promoting a more sustainable mining industry, and cleaning the environment.