From Segregation Checklist for Stockpiles, which practice helps prevent segregation?

• A. Use a single large bin
• B. Keep stockpiles dry only
• C. Avoid adjacent Bin Spillage
• D. Rotate stockpiles hourly

Answer: (C)

Segregation in stockpiles happens when different particle sizes separate as material is moved, loaded, and reclaimed, leaving some areas richer in fines and others in coarser material. The most effective way to prevent this is to control how material flows and where it spills. Avoiding spillage from adjacent bins directly reduces the chances that streams of material with different sizes mix unevenly or that the flow separates as it lands and moves within the pile. By keeping these spill paths separate, the stockpile remains more uniform, and the reclaimed material maintains a consistent gradation.

Other options don’t address the root cause of segregation as directly. Using a single large bin can introduce its own flow problems and bridging, which can actually promote segregation. Keeping stockpiles dry helps with moisture and related issues but doesn’t prevent size-based separation. Rotating stockpiles hourly is impractical and doesn’t specifically target the mechanics that cause segregation.