942 These properties make co-disposal structures more robust over long time horizons. 7.5.3 Integrated Closure And Smaller Footprint Depositing tailings and waste rock together reduces: • the total number of waste facilities, • land disturbance, and • long-term closure obligations. Combined waste deposits allow for streamlined rehabilitation, reducing soil cover requirements and improving landform performance. 7.6 Role of Filtration in Future Integrated Waste Solutions Filtered tailings are increasingly recognized as a central enabler of engineered integrated waste strategies. The (Josic TMW2024) paper highlights how advances in filtration—automation, moisture control, throughput—allow more consistent and predictable tailings properties, which are essential for safe co-disposal implementation. Similarly, the (Leonida E&MJ 2020) article notes that next-generation pressure filters produce consistent, low-moisture cakes suitable for downstream handling, blending, and geotechnical design, making large-scale integrated waste approaches more feasible. 7.7 Summary: Co-Disposal as a Complement to Filtered Tailings Co-disposal and co-mixing do not replace filtered tailings but extend their value: • Filtered tailings provide the essential fine, low-moisture component needed for engineered blends. • Co-disposal improves physical and geochemical stability beyond what filtered tailings or waste rock alone can deliver. • Integrated waste strategies reduce land footprint, lower closure costs, and enhance environmental performance. The technology is evolving rapidly, and with modern filtration systems providing consistent cake properties, co-disposal stands out as a powerful complement to dry stacking, especially at operations facing ARD risks, constrained land availability, or complex closure requirements. 8. DISCUSSION: FILTERED TAILINGS ADVANTAGES The preceding sections have presented a balanced comparison of tailings technologies. Thickened, paste, filtered, and co-disposal strategies all have roles to play depending on site conditions, regulatory settings, cost environments, and operational objectives. However, when evaluated through modern governance frameworks, water scarcity pressures, closure obligations, and ESG expectations, the evidence from the referenced documents shows a consistent trajectory: filtered tailings increasingly emerge as the most resilient, future-ready, and risk-aligned solution. This section synthesizes the reasons behind that trend. 8.1 Alignment with GISTM, ESG, and Evolving Governance Expectations The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) has fundamentally shifted industry expectations by requiring operators to demonstrate that they have rigorously assessed all applicable tailings strategies and selected the one that minimises risk and maximises long-term resilience. Addressing the Barriers to the Implementation of Filtered Tailings notes that filtered tailings directly support these goals by reducing geotechnical and environmental risk, limiting water loss, and enhancing closure outcomes.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2