October 13, 2025, Mendoza, Argentina – Knight Piésold showcased its technical leadership at the 11th International Conference on Tailings Management (Tailings 2025), held at the Sheraton Hotel in Santiago, Chile, in early September. Knight Piésold specialists presented technical studies developed through collaborative efforts across offices in Argentina, Chile, and the USA, addressing challenges associated with tailings transport and management across complex operational environments.

The conference brought together over 790 delegates from 22 countries, establishing itself as one of the most important global forums for discussing advances, challenges, and best practices in tailings management, transport, disposal, and monitoring. More than 150 technical presentations were delivered over three days of knowledge exchange and industry updates.

Negative Static Head Applications

During Session 12, Cristian Bertolo, an electromechanical engineer at Knight Piésold Argentina, presented “Challenges of Tailings Transport Pumping Systems in Negative Static Head Applications.” The paper, co-authored by Cristian Giner and Gonzalo Laciar of Knight Piésold Argentina, analyzed the operational conditions of pumping systems in negative static head configurations, exploring alternatives that improve the efficiency and robustness of tailings transport systems.

Hydraulic Evaluation in Mountainous Terrain

In the same session, Cristian Giner, a project technical coordinator at Knight Piésold Argentina, delivered insights on “Hydraulic Evaluation of Tailings Transport Systems in Mountainous Terrain: Density Wave Analysis,” co-authored with Alexander Manos and Stuart Flett of Knight Piésold USA. The study evaluated the hydraulic behavior of tailings transport systems over terrain with significant topographic variations, analyzing water/slurry phase transition phenomena and their implications for design and operation.

Seismic Cone Penetration Test Applications

During Session 13, Jorge León, a civil engineer at Knight Piésold Chile, continued with “Lessons Learned in the Interpretation of SCPT on a Tailings Facility Using the CSSM Framework,” co-authored with Claudia Vallejos of Knight Piésold Chile. The study presented an assessment of the application of the Seismic Cone Penetration Test with pore pressure measurements (SCPT) for evaluating a tailings storage facility with high saturation levels and low equilibrium pore pressures. The research addressed critical insights gained from a site investigation, providing practical lessons for current industry practices.

Rheology Tests for Long-Distance Transport

Gonzalo Laciar, the electromechanical discipline lead at Knight Piésold Argentina, concluded the company’s presentations during Session 20 with “The Role of Rheology Tests in the Design and Operation of Long-Distance Slurry Transport Systems.” The paper, co-authored with Cristian Giner and Cristian Bertolo of Knight Piésold Argentina and Alexander Manos and Stuart Flett of Knight Piésold USA, presented a case study demonstrating how the rheological properties of tailings, influenced by factors such as sample preparation and thixotropy, can play a crucial role in optimizing key hydraulic design decisions.

Advancing Global Tailings Management

“In addition to our four technical presentations, we had a strong presence at Tailings 2025, with 15 specialists from our offices in Argentina and Chile taking part. They shared the latest advancements and best practices in tailings management alongside mining professionals from across South America and other regions,” said Maximiliano Mateu, the business development lead at Knight Piésold Argentina.

“By combining the expertise of our offices, we can tackle the industry’s complex challenges through innovative and collaborative solutions,” added Mateu. “At Knight Piésold, our global team continues to work together to develop safe, efficient, and sustainable solutions for tailings management.”