The fine coal waste for the present study was a by product of the mechanical coal processing used at the coal mine. Approximately 86% of the product from the processing plant is coal with a calorific value of 20–23MJ=kg. A fraction below 1.5mm was concentrated in the radial thickener and dewatered on belt filter presses. The moisture of the dehydrated sludge and fines stored in the tanks was approximately 12%.