Mining
Piping for Slurry, Acid Service, and Remote Operations
Stainless and corrosion-resistant alloy piping for mineral processing, tailings management, and underground infrastructure across British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec — stocked for the grades and pressure ratings your process engineers spe
316L · 317L · 2205 · Hastelloy C-276 · Inconel 625
ASME B31.3 · ASTM A312 · A182 · A403 · Avetta #18115 · ISN #400-209938
Sector Overview
Mining Puts Piping Under Combined Attack
Corrosion alone is manageable. Abrasion alone is manageable. Mining piping systems face both simultaneously — and the combination is what makes alloy selection critical. Slurry transport lines carry abrasive mineral particles through acidic or alkaline process solutions. Tailings systems handle corrosive effluent under continuous flow. Underground drainage and ventilation piping operates in humid, chemically variable environments where carbon steel fails early and maintenance access is difficult.
Unified Alloys supplies stainless and CRA piping into Canadian mining operations from our branches in Edmonton, Sarnia, Dorval, and Langley. Whether you are specifying for a new build, a capital expansion, or ongoing MRO at a producing mine, our technical sales team can advise on grade selection for your specific ore processing chemistry and service conditions.
MTRs are supplied with all orders. Special alloys — Hastelloy C-276, Inconel 625, and others — are available on request for the most aggressive leach and acid service applications.
Duplex 2205 is the most commonly specified upgrade from 316L in Canadian mining applications — it offers significantly higher resistance to stress corrosion cracking and pitting in chloride-bearing process solutions, with roughly double the yield strength of standard austenitic grades.
Facilities We Supply
- Mineral processing and concentrator facilities
- Slurry transport and tailings pipeline systems
- Heap leach and solvent extraction circuits
- Underground drainage and sump systems
- Ventilation and cooling water infrastructure
- Gold, copper, nickel, and potash operations
Slurry Transport — Abrasion and Corrosion Combined
Slurry lines carrying mineral particles through acidic or alkaline solutions experience mechanical wear and chemical attack simultaneously. Standard 316L provides adequate corrosion resistance for many slurry applications; duplex 2205 is specified where stress corrosion cracking resistance is also required, particularly in chloride-bearing process water.
Typical Grades
316L · 317L · 2205
Acid Leach Circuits
Hydrometallurgical processes for gold, copper, and nickel extraction use sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and other aggressive lixiviants. Where 316L is insufficient — typically at higher acid concentrations or elevated temperatures — Hastelloy C-276 and Inconel 625 provide the corrosion resistance required to maintain circuit integrity.
Typical Grades
316L · Hastelloy C-276 · Inconel 625
Tailings and Process Water
Tailings management systems handle corrosive, variable-chemistry effluent under continuous flow. 316L and 317L are the standard choices for general tailings service; duplex grades are specified where higher strength or SCC resistance is required in chloride-rich tailings water.
Typical Grades
316L · 317L · 2205
Underground Drainage and Ventilation
Underground mine drainage systems operate in persistently humid, acidic environments that corrode carbon steel rapidly. Stainless piping eliminates the maintenance and replacement cycles that plague carbon steel in underground service, reducing lifecycle cost over the mine's operating life.
Typical Grades
316L · 304L
Remote Site Logistics
Many Canadian mining operations are in remote locations where material lead times and delivery logistics directly affect project schedules and shutdown planning. Unified Alloys' national branch network and 48-hour typical ship time from stock reduce supply risk for both capital projects and unplanned MRO requirements.
Typical Grades
316L · 2205 · Standard stocking grades
Mechanical Pipe Joining in Process Areas
Grooved mechanical coupling systems — Victaulic and equivalent — are widely used in mining process areas where rapid installation, modularity, and the ability to reconfigure piping without hot work are priorities. Stainless grooved fittings and couplings are available alongside traditional buttweld and socketweld components.
Typical Grades
316L SS grooved fittings and couplings
Ready to Order or Need Help Sizing?
Our technical sales team can help you select the right size, material, and configuration for your application.