Erection of a Waste Earthen Dike the Kipushi Valley, DR Congo

The former Kipushi Concentrator (ACK), which has been operating for several years, has three artificial basins constructed by erecting earth dikes for the decantation of water contained in huge quantities of pulp-drained discharges for the purpose of storing solid discharges in these basins. It happens that currently the first two basins are filled and the third is 80 % saturated. There is therefore a need to consider the construction of a fourth tailings pond by erecting a dike in earth; hence the study of erection of a fourth dike which is the subject of our study. Our study focuses on the design of the fourth basin, the dimensioning of the accessories of the dike, the study of the soils used as foundation and erection of dikes, as well as the choice of the compactor and the method of compaction (method of construction). Although there are several studies on the construction of tailings dikes, ours being a punctual case of the former concentrator of Kipushi, it will bring him an economic gain, following the recovery in the future of the residual metals by storage of the rejects in this fourth basin.