| Technical Report on Thompson Creek Molybdenum Mine Page 18-23
Effective Date: September 1, 2024
the MCE. For this reason, it is important that the fixed cyclone station be used to maximize on-specification sand recovery following mill restart, with sand distributed to areas of the dam that are
currently below intended grades, with the objective of enhancing seismic stability as quickly as feasible.
WSP (2024a) conducted a thermal evaluation to assess whether the annual cyclone sand deposition
season could be lengthened without significant risk of creating permanently frozen zones or lenses
within the sand dam for the purpose of increasing sand volumes for dam construction.
Additionally, Paterson and Cooke (2023) analyzed the fixed cyclone station in combination with historical
tailings properties to evaluate the achievable range of on-specification sand recovery. Based on findings
from these two evaluations, TCM intends to operate the fixed cyclone station for nine months out of
each year with a target sand recovery of 60% (increased from 45% for the on-dam cyclones) and an
assumed availability of 85% after mill restart until the sand dam is fully constructed. WSP (2024b) carried
out detailed tailings deposition modeling for this period on annual timesteps based on the updated
cyclone operation criteria. The corresponding tailings deposition volumes are summarized in Table 18-1.
A diagram showing the maximum-height dam cross-section at the ultimate LOM configuration, with the
year-by-year sand placement sequence after mill restart also shown, is provided in Figure 18-5.
Table 18-1 Tailings deposition and static stability FS by year
Year Cyclone sand Cyclone overflow
(fines) Whole tailings Static FS
1 2,621,000 tons 1,747,000 tons 771,000 tons 1.7
2 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.6
3 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.6
4 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.6
5 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.9
6 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.9
7 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.8
8 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.8
9
(Note 1) 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons 1.8
10
(Note 1) 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons
1.8 (Note 2)
11
(Note 1) 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons
12
(Note 1) 3,978,000 tons 2,652,000 tons 3,770,000 tons
13
(Note 1) 1,278,000 tons 852,000 tons 2,881,000 tons
Notes:
1. Tailings produced after the design grades have been reached will be used to help reach closure grades across the impoundment
surface. The tonnages shown correspond to the cyclone operation parameters used in the tailings deposition modeling. However,
the cyclone system will only be operated as needed to produce sand for dam construction. Whole tailings will be deposited across
the impoundment surface otherwise.
2. The sand dam geometry and seepage conditions are not projected to change materially from Year 10 through Year 13, so the
indicated FS is considered to be applicable through that timeframe. |