Author(s):
1. Zoran Agbaba, ArcelorMittal Prijedor, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Dragan Kokanović, ArcelorMittal Prijedor, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Draško Simić, ArcelorMittal Prijedor, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Igor Šurlan, ArcelorMittal Prijedor, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract:
Tailings storage facilities (TSF) are facilities for disposal and storage of waste that is produced as a by-product of ore processing or other base materials in mines. TSF is an unavoidable part in mines and definition of the area for the safe disposal of tailings is a complex process that requires interaction and good cooperation between different professions. Disposal of tailings in the Omarska mine was supposed to take place in two phases. The first phase of TSF is provided by the construction of the Međeđa dam. Since the first phase of the Međeđa dam is finalized and space was filled with tailings, raising the height of dam, to extend the dam's operating life in the second phase, required significant investment and increased environmental risk. Therefore, a technical-economic study was carried out, and it was analyzed in details the future management of tailings disposal in the Omarska mine. This paper summarizes the results of a multi-year study and possibility for disposal of the remaining quantity of tailings, produced by ore processing in the Omarska mine. The analyzes encompassed total investment, positive and negative aspects of each variant, differences in the price of transportation, equipment maintenance prices and TSF monitoring, then the security aspects and criteria for choosing a variant. Also, project implementation, monitoring and achieved benefits of selected and implemented variant of the TSF were presented.

Key words:
Tailings disposal,TSF,dam,iron ore

Thematic field:
The exploitation of mineral resources and mining technological processes

Date of abstract submission:
05.08.2017.

Conference:
7th Balkan Mining Congress

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