 Using
Power PrimeTM 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.
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