The study was concerned with the handling of wastewater resulting from the concentration of low grade iron ore. Specific objectives were to develop tailings basin design and management criteria, to investigate methods of treating basin effluents, and to investigate transport characteristics of particulate materials contained in basin discharges. These objectives were accomplished through laboratory and field studies conducted at the tailings impoundment systems associated with two iron ore concentrating plants located in Upper Michigan. Annual water balances were formulated for the tailings system at each plant to show the relative importance of precipitation, surface outflow and seepage. Settling column and dye dispersion tests were employed to predict concentrations of suspended material remaining in basin effluents. The cost effectiveness of various coagulation systems for treating basin effluent was investigated. Particular attention was devoted to a study of the thickening and dewatering characteristics of the slurry produced by chemical coagulation of the basin effluent. Finally, settling column experiments in which fine tailings particles were diluted with various natural waters were conducted.

Report prepared by Michigan Technological University, Civil Engineering Department, Houghton, Michigan. "Project 14040 FVD; Program element 1BB040." Includes bibliographical references (pages 105-106).