Hydraulic transport of solids has
been occurring since the beginning
of time – a trip to your local river
delta clearly illustrates the long-distance
transport of fine solids particles.
Engineering advances have converted
this natural phenomenon into a commercially
successful transport system for
industrial minerals and other solids via
slurry pipelines. Operational systems
include hard-rock minerals (such as iron
and copper concentrates), soft-rock ores
(such as bauxite and nickel laterite), coal
and virtually every type of mineral tailings.
Hydraulic transport of solids in slurry
pipelines has been a common mining
industry practice for over 100 years, with
long-distance pipelines having more than
50 years of proven performance. However,
this technology is far more flexible than a
simple A-B transport system. Integrating
upstream and downstream processes often
provides significant economic benefits, and
provides a more efficient overall system.