Center for Geodynamic Safety, Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia:

A. A. Kisel, Head of a Department
P. S. Guzanov, Chief Specialist
A. E. Lytneva, Leading Engineer
O. A. Gets, Specialist (Category I)

The authors appreciate participation of specialists of Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Division V. P. Marysyuk, Yu. N. Nagovitsin, A. A. Bazin, V. P. Gorpinchenko in this study.

Implementation of the Sulfur Project at Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Division is described. Artificial gypsum calcination temperatures from the laboratory research with production of artificial gypsum plaster and artificial anhydrite are reported. Workability of the produced gypsum plaster and artificial anhydrite is examined. The laboratory test data on preparation of trial backfill mixtures with gypsum, gypsum plaster and anhydrite produced using process water and waste water from drawoff 41 of Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant are presented. It is found that the use of the produced material in backfill mixture is technologically feasible. The trial and master formulations of backfill mixtures are compared. The laboratory test data on flowability and strength of backfill mixtures in uniaxial compression within a control period are analyzed. The flow charts of flowability reduction and hardening of trial backfill mixture according to the lab-scale tests are presented. It is concluded on applicability of gypsum produced after neutralization of limestone by sulfuric acid, as well as gypsum plaster and anhydrite after gypsum calcination in preparation of trial backfill mixtures.

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