Technology for dust control

During the first two weeks of June, we visited Mr. Fabio and Ruth Hughes of Soilworks® U.S.A enterprises. This company is a global leader specializing in soil stabilization and dust control aimed at providing environmental solutions to the problems of emissions and leaks of dust for medium and large mining. The main applications of this technology are products for dust control on gravel roads, mine tailings and containment of slopes. 

Aguasin created a strategic alliance with distribution of Soilworks® that included training in the application of dust suppressants in the United States and technical training in Chile to our engineers of Iquique Antofagasta, Calama and Copiapó. There are two types of different products for solutions of dust control: Soiltac® and Durasoil®. Soiltac® is a polymer, which must be mixed with water to be applied, either topically or in the form of soil stabilization.

This product has a time of healing that can vary between 6 and 48 hours depending on the relative humidity of the air, wind and weather conditions in general. The application forms a crust on the surface and the primary use is the road outside of the mines. The rate of application and uses of this product are variables. In a topical form, controls the dust and a mixer application is so powerful that is used in landings of aircraft at airports. The duration of the product is 12 to 24 months, depending on the weather, initial conditions of the soil, the type and severity of traffic.

Durasoil® oil is a 100% ultra-pure, that is not mixed with water. Holding the soil feasible and folding in such a way that you can use leveling in the field. In the mines, the use of this product is primarily intended for the internal roads (under the earth). Workers in mines, do not have to use their masks of air, given the large dust control it provides. The duration of the product is from 9 to 16 months, depending on the weather, initial conditions of the soil, the type and intensity of the traffic.

Tailing impoundment before Soiltac® Application	Tailing impoundment after Soiltac® Application	Path before mining Soiltac® Application
Road before mining Soiltac® Application	Way mining during Soiltac® Application	Road after mining Soiltac® Application
Field visit to Soilworks® in Antofagasta	Training in Antofagasta