US 11,724,291 B2
Closure methods for mines
Karl William Yost, Anacortes, WA (US); William Simon, Durango, CO (US); and Richard Wayne Alexander, Lebanon, OR (US)
Assigned to Yost Brothers, LLC, Anacortes, WA (US)
Filed by Yost Brothers, LLC, Anacortes, WA (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/185,138.
Application 17/185,138 is a continuation of application No. 16/378,507, filed on Apr. 8, 2019, granted, now 10,960,444.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/654,206, filed on Apr. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0178437 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. B09B 3/00 (2022.01); B09B 3/80 (2022.01); E21F 15/00 (2006.01); B09B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B09B 3/80 (2022.01) [B09B 1/008 (2013.01); E21F 15/005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for processing mine waste, the method comprising:
receiving a mine waste including one or more heavy metals, a first heavy metal leachability, and a first sulfide concentration, wherein the mine waste, when exposed to air or water, forms acid mine drainage that includes at least some of the one or more heavy metals; and
treating the mine waste to produce a product having a pH less than 7.5, wherein the product is configured to fill a mine and includes (i) a second heavy metal leachability less than the first heavy metal leachability, (ii) a second sulfide concentration less than the first sulfide concentration, and (iii) an entirety of the one or more heavy metals of the received mine waste, and wherein the product, when exposed to water or oxygen, does not form acid mine drainage.