Using Power Prime^TM Pumps in Mining

Primary and Secondary Centrifugal Pumps Dewater a Flooded Arizona Copper Pit

Heavy winter rains made for a spectacular spring in the deserts of Arizona. However, those rains were not welcomed by everyone. Rapidly rising water at two major Arizona copper mines put mining operations in serious jeopardy.

Our Rain for Rent office in Chandler received an emergency call from a mining company and mobilized several vacuum-assist self-priming pumps to the mine to assist in dewatering the pit. Tail water, rain, groundwater, and leachates can find their way into the pits. Some of this water can have a pH as low as 3 and is very abrasive, which adds additional challenges to the dewatering process.

Another mining company was able to control its dewatering problems with pumps recently sold to them by the Rain for Rent, Chandler, office.

In conjunction with Rain for Rent's continuing effort to better serve the mining industry, John Lake, president of Rain for Rent, recently took a fact-finding tour of these two mines. Lake was impressed with the mining operations and the overall size and scope of copper mining in Arizona. Lake reinforced Rain for Rent's commitment to expanding the fleet of stainless steel, vacuum-assist, self-priming pumps for the mines. Rain for Rent is pleased to be part of Arizona's number one industry. 

Potash Mining Company in Utah needs Removal of Residue from Holding Pond

Rain for Rent's Salt Lake City branch was contacted by a potash mining company to help solve a problem with solids buildup in a brine holding pond. The buildup occurs when capacity limitations force plant operators to store excess brine solution. The potash solids settle in the holding pond and create a thick layer or buildup.

To recover the potash, the holding pond is periodically emptied and buildup cleaned out. One way to clean the buildup is to mix high-pressure water with the brine and pump the solution into an evaporation pond. The water evaporates, leaving the potash for later use.

The job required the removal of about four feet of potash buildup from the bottom of the 400' by 250' holding pond. To complete this month-long project, Rain for Rent provided a DV150 Power Prime vacuum-assist, self-priming pump that pumped approximately 500 GPM at 50 PSI through a water monitor which was used to blast the brine solids back into the solution. About 400 feet of pipe was used to move the brine from the holding pond to the evaporation pond.