A tailings underground storage system

Abstract

This invention discloses an underground tailings storage system, consisting of a tailings storage space, an upper sand feeding system, a lower drainage system, and a bottom seepage water collection system. The tailings storage space is composed of several storage units, which are empty spaces formed after the surrounding rock is mined. Interpanel columns perpendicular to the ore body's direction and isolation columns along the ore body's direction are left between the storage units. The upper sand feeding system consists of an upper panel area connecting road, a storage unit connecting road, and an upper along-vein grouting lane. The lower drainage system consists of a lower panel area connecting road, an along-vein transport lane, an exit route, and a bottom pull lane. The bottom seepage water collection system consists of a connecting ramp and a lower along-vein grouting lane. This invention has the advantages of safe, economical, and environmentally friendly tailings discharge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of underground mining and relates to an underground tailings storage system, which is particularly suitable for processing mineral processing tailings in mining enterprises with high tailings yield and limited tailings pond capacity. Background Art

[0002] Ore dressing tailings are a type of solid waste product remaining after the target beneficial components are extracted during the mineral processing operation. Their yield is usually much higher than that of the target beneficial components, especially for non-ferrous metal mines, where the yield is usually above 90%. How to process and utilize ore dressing tailings at low cost and high efficiency has always been a major technical challenge facing the mining industry.

[0003] Currently, the most common method for processing tailings from mineral processing is to use them as underground goaf backfill. This involves using the ore after it has been mined and brought to the surface. This method serves multiple purposes, including goaf treatment, ground pressure management, and tailings disposal. However, with the exception of a few minerals with high concentrate yields, such as iron ore, underground tailings backfilling cannot completely consume and dispose of all tailings. While new developments have emerged in recent years, such as the use of tailings as building materials, the amount of tailings disposed of and consumed remains limited due to market size and consumer acceptance. Therefore, surface tailings ponds are still necessary to store excess tailings. Surface storage of tailings raises numerous economic, safety, and environmental challenges. First, the construction of tailings ponds requires significant land acquisition, resulting in high investment and costs. Furthermore, surface tailings ponds carry the risk of dam failure, posing significant safety risks to local residents. Furthermore, surface storage of tailings can cause environmental problems, including dust, water pollution, and sudden heavy metal contamination. Therefore, how to deal with mineral processing tailings has become one of the common problems faced by all mining companies.

[0004] To this end, the present invention provides an underground tailings storage system, which aims to solve the problem of tailings discharge and treatment in mineral processing enterprises. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides an underground tailings storage system, which is characterized by:

[0006] The underground storage system for mineral processing tailings consists of a tailings storage space, an upper sand feeding system, a lower drainage system and a bottom seepage water collection system; the tailings storage space is composed of several storage units, which are empty areas formed after the surrounding rock is mined, and disk interval columns perpendicular to the direction of the ore body and isolation interval columns along the direction of the ore body are left between the storage units; the upper sand feeding system consists of an upper disk area connecting road, a storage unit connecting road and an upper vein grouting lane; the lower drainage system consists of a lower disk area connecting road, a vein transport lane, a mine exit road and a bottom pull lane; the bottom seepage water collection system consists of a connecting ramp and a lower vein grouting lane.

[0007] Furthermore, the underground storage system for mineral processing tailings is arranged in a rock layer with good stability in the lower middle section of the initial mining of the ore body and is located outside the range of rock movement during mining of the lower middle section. The height of the storage unit is the height of the middle section, and the length and width are determined according to the stability of the rock layer.

[0008] Furthermore, the upper panel area connecting road is arranged in the upper center of the inter-panel column, the upper panel area connecting road connects the upper and middle transport return air lanes and the upper along-vein grouting lanes, the upper along-vein grouting lanes are arranged at the outermost side of the tailings storage system along the direction of the ore body, and the upper part of each storage unit and the upper panel area connecting roads on both sides are connected through the storage unit connecting road.

[0009] Furthermore, the lower panel area connecting road opens from the middle transport lane and is arranged in the lower center of the inter-panel column. Adjacent lower panel area connecting roads are connected by the vein transport lane. Every two adjacent storage units share a vein transport lane. The bottom lane of each storage unit and the vein transport lane are connected by a mine access route.

[0010] Furthermore, the lower vein grouting tunnel is arranged along the ore body at 10-12m below the elevation of the lower drainage system, and the lower vein grouting tunnel and the middle vein transport tunnel are connected by a connecting ramp.

[0011] Furthermore, the volume of the underground storage system for mineral processing tailings is determined according to the amount of tailings required for discharge and treatment.

[0012] Furthermore, a layer of grouting curtain is constructed around and at the bottom boundary of the underground storage system for mineral processing tailings to prevent water in the tailings from entering the groundwater system. Dehydration pipes are arranged on both sides of the storage unit, a sand inlet pipe is arranged in the upper sand inlet system, a drainage pipe and a sedimentation water tank are arranged in the lower drainage system, the bottom of the dehydration pipe is connected to the drainage pipe, and the bottom seepage water collection system is arranged with a row of water collection boreholes, a water collection pool and a water supply pipe; the surface mineral processing tailings delivery pipe is connected to the sand inlet pipe, and the mineral processing tailings are discharged to the storage unit through the pipeline, and the water in the tailings is discharged into the sedimentation water tank through the dehydration pipe and the drainage pipe. A small amount of seepage water is collected into the water collection pool through the water collection borehole, and then pumped to the sedimentation water tank through the water supply pipe. The water in the sedimentation water tank is then discharged to the surface through the underground drainage system.

[0013] Preferably, the storage unit is 50-80m long and 15-20m wide, the inter-disk column width is 12-15m, and the isolation column width is 8-10m.

[0014] Preferably, the grouting curtains are located around and at the bottom boundary of the tailings storage system, wherein the grouting curtains in the direction perpendicular to the ore body are located directly below the upper vein grouting tunnel and the upper middle transport return air tunnel, respectively, and the grouting curtains along the ore body are located in the disk interval columns at both ends.

[0015] Beneficial effects

[0016] Compared with the existing technologies and methods, the underground tailings storage system provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) the tailings storage system is located underground, and the discharge of tailings is safe, economical and environmentally friendly, which can avoid the establishment of tailings ponds on the surface, thereby avoiding the safety and environmental risks brought by surface tailings ponds; (2) the waste rock generated during the formation of the mineral processing tailings storage system can be processed into sand and gravel aggregates as raw materials for the construction industry and sold, thereby improving the economic benefits of the enterprise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a tailings underground storage system provided by the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 AA cross-sectional view of a tailings underground storage system provided by the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 A BB cross-sectional view of a tailings underground storage system provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 A CC cross-sectional view of a tailings underground storage system provided by the present invention;

[0022] In the figure: 1-upper middle section transport return air lane; 2-upper panel area connecting road; 3-storage unit connecting road; 4-panel interval column; 5-isolation column; 6-storage unit; 7-upper vein grouting lane; 8-middle section transport lane; 9-lower panel area connecting road; 10-vein transport lane; 11-bottom lane; 12-mine exit road; 13-connecting ramp; 14-lower vein grouting lane; 15-grouting curtain; 16-water collection borehole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of various embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments; based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] The present invention provides an underground storage system for mineral processing tailings, which has the following characteristics:

[0025] The underground storage system for mineral processing tailings consists of a tailings storage space, an upper sand feeding system, a lower drainage system and a bottom seepage water collection system; the tailings storage space is composed of several storage units 6, which are empty areas formed after the surrounding rock is mined, and disk interval columns 4 perpendicular to the direction of the ore body and isolation interval columns 5 along the direction of the ore body are left between the storage units 6; the upper sand feeding system is composed of an upper disk area connecting road 2, a storage unit 6 connecting road 3 and an upper vein grouting lane 7; the lower drainage system is composed of a lower disk area connecting road 9, an along-vein transport lane 10, a mine exit road 12 and a bottom pulling lane 11; the bottom seepage water collection system is composed of a connecting ramp 13 and a lower along-vein grouting lane 14.

[0026] The size of the tailings storage system is determined by the amount of tailings required for discharge and processing. The underground tailings storage system is located in a relatively stable rock formation in the footwall of the initial mining middle section of the ore body and outside the range of rock movement during mining in the lower middle section. The height of storage unit 6 is the height of the middle section, and the length and width are determined by the stability of the rock formation. Storage unit 6 is 50-80m long and 15-20m wide. The inter-wall columns 4 are 12-15m wide, and the isolation columns 5 are 8-10m wide.

[0027] The upper panel area connecting road 2 is arranged in the upper center of the panel interval column 4. The upper panel area connecting road 2 connects the upper middle section transport return air lane 1 and the upper vein grouting lane 7. The upper vein grouting lane 7 is arranged at the outermost side of the tailings storage system along the direction of the ore body. The upper part of each storage unit 6 and the upper panel area connecting roads 2 on both sides are connected through the storage unit 6 connecting road 3.

[0028] The lower panel area connecting road 9 opens from the middle transport lane 8 and is arranged in the lower center of the inter-panel column 4. Adjacent lower panel area connecting roads 9 are connected by a vein transport lane 10. Every two adjacent storage units 6 share a vein transport lane 10. The bottom lane 11 at the bottom of each storage unit 6 and the vein transport lane 10 are connected by a mine access road 12.

[0029] The lower vein grouting tunnel 14 is arranged along the ore body at 10-12 m below the elevation of the lower drainage system. The lower vein grouting tunnel 14 and the middle vein transport tunnel 10 are connected by a connecting ramp 13 .

[0030] A layer of grouting curtain 15 is constructed around the four sides and bottom boundary of the underground storage system of the mineral processing tailings to prevent water in the tailings from entering the groundwater system. The grouting curtain 15 is located around the four sides and bottom boundary of the tailings storage system. The grouting curtain 15 in the direction perpendicular to the ore body is respectively located directly below the upper vein grouting tunnel 7 and the upper middle section transport return air tunnel 1, and the grouting curtain 15 along the direction of the ore body is located in the disk interval columns 4 at the ends of both sides. Dehydration pipes are arranged on both sides of the storage unit 6, a sand inlet pipe is arranged in the upper sand inlet system, a drainage pipe and a sedimentation water tank are arranged in the lower drainage system, the bottom of the dehydration pipe is connected to the drainage pipe, and the bottom seepage water collection system is arranged with a row of water collection boreholes 16, a water collection tank and a water supply pipe; the surface mineral processing tailings conveying pipe is connected to the sand inlet pipe, and the mineral processing tailings are discharged to the storage unit 6 through the pipeline, and the water in the tailings is discharged into the sedimentation water tank through the dehydration pipe and the drainage pipe. A small amount of seepage water is collected into the water collection tank through the water collection borehole 16, and then pumped to the sedimentation water tank through the water supply pipe. The water in the sedimentation water tank is then discharged to the surface through the underground drainage system.

[0031] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tailings underground storage system, characterized by: The tailings underground storage system consists of a tailings storage space, an upper sand feeding system, a lower drainage system, and a bottom seepage water collection system; the tailings storage space is composed of several storage units, which are empty areas formed after the surrounding rock is mined. Interpanel columns perpendicular to the ore body direction and isolation columns along the ore body direction are left between the storage units; the upper sand feeding system consists of an upper panel area connecting road, a storage unit connecting road, and an upper vein grouting lane; the lower drainage system consists of a lower panel area connecting road, a vein transportation lane, a mine access road, and a bottom pull lane; the bottom seepage water collection system consists of a connecting ramp and a lower vein grouting lane; The tailings underground storage system is arranged in a rock stratum with good stability in the footwall of the first mining middle section of the ore body and is located outside the rock movement range during mining in the lower middle section. The height of the storage unit is the height of the middle section, and the length and width are determined according to the stability of the rock stratum. The lower panel area connecting road opens from the middle transport lane and is arranged in the lower center of the inter-panel column. Adjacent lower panel area connecting roads are connected by the vein transport lane. Every two adjacent storage units share one vein transport lane. The bottom lane at the bottom of each storage unit and the vein transport lane are connected by a mine access route.

2. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper panel area connecting road is arranged in the center of the upper part of the panel interval column, and the upper panel area connecting road connects the upper and middle transport return air lanes and the upper vein grouting lanes. The upper vein grouting lanes are arranged at the outermost side of the tailings storage system along the direction of the ore body. The upper part of each storage unit and the upper panel area connecting roads on both sides are connected through the storage unit connecting road.

3. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower vein grouting tunnel is arranged along the ore body at 10-12m below the elevation of the lower drainage system, and the lower vein grouting tunnel and the middle vein transport tunnel are connected by a connecting ramp.

4. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volume of the tailings underground storage system is determined according to the amount of tailings required for discharge and treatment.

5. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A layer of grouting curtain is constructed around and at the bottom of the tailings underground storage system to prevent water in the tailings from entering the groundwater system. Dehydration pipes are arranged on both sides of the storage unit, a sand inlet pipe is arranged in the upper sand inlet system, a drainage pipe and a sedimentation water tank are arranged in the lower drainage system, the bottom of the dehydration pipe is connected to the drainage pipe, and the bottom seepage water collection system is arranged with a row of water collection boreholes, a water collection pool and a water supply pipe; the surface mineral processing tailings delivery pipe is connected to the sand inlet pipe, and the mineral processing tailings are discharged to the storage unit through the pipeline, and the water in the tailings is discharged into the sedimentation water tank through the dehydration pipe and the drainage pipe. A small amount of seepage water is collected into the water collection pool through the water collection borehole, and then pumped to the sedimentation water tank through the water supply pipe. The water in the sedimentation water tank is then discharged to the surface through the underground drainage system.

6. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The storage unit is 50-80m long and 15-20m wide, the columns between disks are 12-15m wide, and the columns between isolation rooms are 8-10m wide.

7. The tailings underground storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The grouting curtains are located around and at the bottom boundary of the tailings storage system, wherein the grouting curtains in the direction perpendicular to the ore body are respectively located directly below the upper vein grouting tunnel and the upper middle transport return air tunnel, and the grouting curtains along the ore body are located in the disk interval columns at both ends.

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