«Mekhanobr Engineering» JSC (Russia):

Avksentyev S. Yu., Leader of Group, avksentiev@mail.ru

Smekhova N. S., Second Rank Engineer

Higher Mining-and-Metallurgical Institute (Cuba):

Vega Almager M., Professor;

St. Petersburg State Mining University:

Nikolaev A. K., Professor

The article briefly describes the process of rock mass mining in Moa-East Pit with transport to Pedro Soto Alba Plant in the Republic of Cuba. Limonite ore physical-mechanical properties are characterized. On the basis of the ore properties analysis, a conclusion is drawn with respect to advisability of hydrotransport as the main transport in ore transportation from the pit to the plant, with application of slurry-pumping unit, designed by the scientists from the St. Petersburg Mining Institute and the Higher Mining-and-Metallurgical Institute (Cuba). The results of limonite ore hydrotransport parameters experimental studies at the pilot-scale installation are presented. Rheological characteristic and specific head losses in structural and turbulent flow regimes of limonite hydromixture, classified as a fine-dispersed hydromixture, are determined. The developed calculation method for the above parameters permits to obtain reliable input data to be used in design of hydrotransport line.

1. Pat. 2287642 Republic of Cuba.
2. Vega Almager M. Obosnovaniye tekhnologicheskoy skhemy i parametrov kompleksa dlya transportirovaniya vysokokontsentrirovannoy gidrosmesi na laterinovykh karyerakh. Avtoref. dis. … kand. tekhn. nauk (Substantiation of the technological scheme and parameters of a complex for hydrotransportation of highly concentrated hydromixes on lateritic open-cast mines. Author's abstract of candidate’s dissertation). St. Petersburg, 2006. 21 p.
3. Robinsky E. I. Tailing disposal by the thickened discharge method for improved economy and environmental eontrol. Proc. of the 2^nd Int. Tailings Symp., 1978, Denver, Colorado, Vol. 2, pp. 75–92.
4. Draper N., Smith H. Prikladnoy regressionnyy analiz (Applied regression analysis). Moscow, Finansy i Statistika, 1966, 224 p.

5. Smoldyrev A. Ye, Safonov Yu. K. Truboprovodnyy transport kontsentrirovannykh gidrosmyesey (Pipeline transport of concentrated hydromixes), Moscow, Mashinostroyeniye, 1973, 208 p.
6. Smoldyrev A. Ye, Safonov Yu. K. Truboprovodnyy transport (Pipeline transport), Moscow, Nedra, 1980, 294 p.