Tailings Disposal

A fter finishing the leaching, the vat is washed and neutralized so that the sterile rock can be transported to the tailings disposal site.

This type of vat has a capital cost twice higher than a heap leaching process but between 27 to 45% lower than agitated leaching.

Operational cost can be 18 to 36% higher than a heap leaching built by agglomeration but 25 to 35% lower than agitated leaching.

Some times, the magnitude of the operation and the location can influence the final costs of a vat leaching process.