Safer Storage of Mine Waste, Water Recovery and Unlocking Tailings Reprocessing

<p class="font_8">While the products from mining—including copper, nickel, cobalt, and other elements—are essential for modern life and the energy transition, the geology of their deposits presents us with a significant challenge. After the valuable elements are recovered, the remaining waste products (typically a combination of barren gangue material and residual metals) represent the heaviest waste problem in human history in terms of tonnage. </p>
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<p class="font_8">Every two weeks or less, the mass of mine waste generated equals the combined mass of every human on Earth. Furthermore, this waste material, which is frequently a mixture of solids and water, can cause harm. This harm may be slow and persistent (acid seepage) or fast and devastating, as in the case of a tailings dam failure. With demand for these elements increasing and the grades of the ores we mine continuing to decline, this waste challenge will only grow. Driven by the investment community and other stakeholders, there is a strong trend toward reducing the risk associated with tailings storage while enhancing water recovery through dewatering, with filtration representing the ultimate solution. </p>
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<p class="font_8">This presentation will examine these trends, illustrating a number of the factors that influence the viability and long-term performance of tailings filtration plants. The presentation will also introduce TailingsPlant.app, a completely free-to-use, sponsor-supported web application for anyone interested in filtration for mineral processing. The application includes calculators for sizing filtration plants, estimating water recovery, and predicting filter cake properties.</p>

Speaker Bio

Dr. Trevor Sparks is a recognised specialist in dewatering and filtration, with decades of experience spanning many areas of industry including pharmaceuticals, chemical and, particularly, mineral processing, tailings management and water stewardship. Today, he works extensively with mining companies evaluating filtration technologies and alternative approaches for reducing tailings risk and recovering process water.

In more than 30 years specialising in separation he has worked in research, technology and equipment supply, industry and consultancy. He is the author of Solid-Liquid Filtration. A user's guide to minimizing costs and environmental impact, maximising quality and productivity

Presentation time

December 9, 2026
8:10 am - 9:20am EST

Abstract

While the products from mining—including copper, nickel, cobalt, and other elements—are essential for modern life and the energy transition, the geology of their deposits presents us with a significant challenge. After the valuable elements are recovered, the remaining waste products (typically a combination of barren gangue material and residual metals) represent the heaviest waste problem in human history in terms of tonnage.

Every two weeks or less, the mass of mine waste generated equals the combined mass of every human on Earth. Furthermore, this waste material, which is frequently a mixture of solids and water, can cause harm. This harm may be slow and persistent (acid seepage) or fast and devastating, as in the case of a tailings dam failure. With demand for these elements increasing and the grades of the ores we mine continuing to decline, this waste challenge will only grow. Driven by the investment community and other stakeholders, there is a strong trend toward reducing the risk associated with tailings storage while enhancing water recovery through dewatering, with filtration representing the ultimate solution.

This presentation will examine these trends, illustrating a number of the factors that influence the viability and long-term performance of tailings filtration plants. The presentation will also introduce TailingsPlant.app, a completely free-to-use, sponsor-supported web application for anyone interested in filtration for mineral processing. The application includes calculators for sizing filtration plants, estimating water recovery, and predicting filter cake properties.