Transport distance, annual volume, and continuity of shipments are other important factors. The processing required at the pipeline origin, as well as at the pipeline termination, are also important factors in determining slurry pipeline feasibility. Each mineral has specific physical and chemical characteristics to be considered when evaluating transport by pipeline.

This really was the beginning of the unit train concept. The pipeline only operated until 1963 when a railroad company literally bought out the transportation contract. It should be noted that one of the earliest slurry pipelines was a 108 mile coal slurry pipeline in Ohio, which started up in 1957. The list covers a wide range of minerals, including copper ore concentrate, iron ore concentrate, limestone, phosphate concentrate, kaolin, Gilsonite and gold ore, with only eleven of the mineral pipelines located moreВ В» in the USA. There are over forty mineral pipelines around the world. The author is referring to the shipment of the minerals in the raw or concentrate form, not tailings pipelines which are also commonplace in the minerals industry. Most people in the mining industry have some familiarity with pipelining of minerals in slurry form, however, many may not realize the extent that mineral slurry pipeline transport is used throughout the world.

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