Siemens Filter Presses Help Bolivian Mine Tailings Management
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Coeur Manquiri, a wholly owned subsidiary of the US-based Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation, recently purchased three MC Press filter presses from Siemens Water Technologies for its San Bartolome mine in Potosi, Bolivia. The dewatering filter presses will allow improved dry stacked tailings management on site. The MC Press filter presses are expected to become operational later this year.
Located at the base of the Cerro Rico Mountain (Andes Mountains) near Potosi, Bolivia, the San Bartolome mine is one of the world's newest and largest pure silver mines. With a projected 14-year mine life, San Bartolome has proven and probable reserves of 120 million ounces of silver within gravel deposits at the base of the mountain. The mine produced 7.5 million ounces of silver in 2009, its first year of production. Its mountaintop location and limited available land for dewatered material made dry stacking the most viable storage option. Apart from the MC Press filter presses for dewatering, Siemens also supplies some aftermarket parts to help Coeur Manquiri ensure uninterrupted mining operations.
Dewatering tailings to higher degrees than paste produces a dry cake. These unsaturated tailings are usually hauled by truck or via conveyor to a tailings deposit where they are spread and compacted. Known as "dry stacking", this stable form of storage requires a smaller footprint, is ideal for sloped terrain, and it generally allows for easier reclamation at the end of mine life.
Coeur Manquiri also uses J-Press filter presses from Siemens at the silver recovery plant. They were installed years ago as part of the Merrill-Crowe process, which is a zinc dust precipitation method used to separate silver from a cyanide solution.
Further information about solutions for water treatment is available at:
http://www.siemens.com/water
Contact USA:
Ms. Allison Britt
Corporate Communications
Siemens Industry, Inc.
Water Technologies Business Unit
2501 N. Barrington Rd. Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 USA Phone 1-847-713-8477
E-mail address allison.britt@siemens.com
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 204,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2010 total sales of approximately Euros34.9 billion. http://www.siemens.com/industry
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. A wide-ranging portfolio of environmental solutions helps industrial companies to use energy, water and equipment efficiently, reduce emissions and comply with environmental guidelines. With around
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