On the Culture Experiments of Rice with OMINE Flotation Tailings

At OMINE Mine (RASA Industries Co. Ltd., IWATEKEN, JAPAN), the culture experiments of rice were carried out with flotation tailings for the purpose of utilizing the tailings. The results of the experiments during some years showed that OMINE flotation tailings promoted good harvesting of rice when mixed with soil. And it was found that the physical properties (grain size distribution and water hold capacity, etc.) and chemical constituents (SiO2, Fe, etc.) of the tailings are suitable for admixturing and neutrizing the soil of this area. More over, it can be said that the clear effluent from the tailings dam is helpful for culturing rice, because it is weakly alkaline (i. e, making fertilizer water-soluble) and about 10°C higher than natural irrigated water (i, e. fostering the growth of rice).