Removal of a sludge layer from a part of the Open Pit South Mining District Majdanpek

This paper describes one of the phases of the technological solution for removal the accumulated material from a part of the Open Pit South Mining District - Copper Mine Majdanpek. It is necessary to clean the material for the purpose of undisturbed further work at the Open Pit. Three layers can be separated in the accumulated material. Each layer requires the use of a different removal technique, where this paper describes the technology of cleaning the middle sludge layer. Hydrocyclone application was proposed to remove the sludge layer, whereby the sludge contains 20-40% of solids. Classification of the sludge will be performed to obtain the underflow containing about 70% of solids and overflow containing 7-20% of the solid phase. The overflow would be gravitationally transported to the water reservoir within the Open Pit, while the underflow would be transported by trucks to a separated waste landfill.