A lot of water is required for processing of ore. Water is used as a medium not only to transport material but also to process the ore to meet the required specification of downstream processing. In the processing of ore we generate a huge quantity of waste water. This water needs to be reused in the system. we will face water shortage in near future. Efforts must be made to use waste water and seawater in processing of various kinds of ores.
Seawater is brought to the plant from a distance of 7 km and pumped to an altitude of 178 m. In the Las Luces plant, seawater is mixed with tailings dam water in the Industrial Storage Pond. The mixed water is used in the grinding and flotation circuits. The Las Luces beneficiation plant has been successfully using seawater for over 15 years through a clever water recirculation scheme. The Las Luces plant is unusual in the sense that it has operated during this time without the use of any fresh water.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892687511000987
Electro-coagulation-flotation is an efficient method that has wide range of applications for waste water treatment of various composition. This involved an electrolytic reactor with aluminium electrodes and a separation/flotation tank. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12405415
The scientific approach involves computer modelling and optimisation of the flows plant-wide. There are newly emerging computer modeling approaches, Water Pinch Modelling is the most advanced approach to optimise water use and recycling. Water Pinch Modelling includes a detailed study of the water processes and water pollution prevention and enables production of a full report on the schemes for wastewater reuse.Water resource management is an integral part of mining, regulators, industry and the community are increasingly recognising the importance of managing water resources in a responsible way. In brief the three areas of concern in sustainable water management within the mining sector are 1) Finding adequate sources of water to use, 2) Minimising water consumption wherever possible and therefore reusing water where possible, 3) Managing waste and remediating contamination.http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/16/challenges-of-water-management-within-the-mining-industry/
Our planet is facing a real crisis in water resources. Climate change and population increases are changing the balance of supply and demand. According to predictions, by 2030 the world’s population will be over 8.1 billion. Since 1950, the need for water has trebled and it will double again by 2050. It is water management that is emerging as the pre-eminent sustainability issue within the Global Energy and Mining Resource Industries. With water being the most important resource in all mining and quarrying developments and operations; it can be used and abused. With hard rock mines in particular using water in all steps of the mining process, from cooling equipment, separating waste from valuable minerals to controlling dust - working with such large volumes of water presents a variety of risks. http://www.allen-york.com/node/393
The application of isotope hydrology is a peaceful utilization of nuclear techniques in water resources assessment and management under the International Atomic Energy Technical Cooperation (IAEA TC) Projects. This involves baseline data acquisition from from groundwater (boreholes), wells and surface water sources for isotopic and chemical analysis to determine groundwater dynamics, origin, recharge, surface/groundwater interactions, sources of groundwater pollution, etc.
http://www.nihydro.gov.ng/application-of-isotope-hydrology-techniques-in-water-resources-assessment-and-management/
Technical Report Reclamation of Mine Regions at Bisgod: Approaches and Challenges