An Overview of Conventional Tailings Dam Geotechnical Failure Mechanisms

Clarkson, L.; Williams, David J.

doi:10.1007/s42461-021-00381-3

Cited by 25 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Avoiding the failure of tailings dams has long been an area of focus for research [ 15 , 16 ]. After many summaries and investigations on tailings dam failures [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], seepage is considered one of the main causes of tailings dam failure [ 19 , 20 ]. Rodríguez et al [ 15 ] investigated 67 tailings dam failures in Spain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Suggested Equivalent Method for a Drainage Structure to Analyze Seepage in Tailings Dam

Zhang

Shen²,

Liu³

et al. 2022

Materials

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To better understand the seepage field in tailings dam with a drainage structure that combines drainage mat, drainage tube, and geotextile, an equivalent seepage analysis method for the drainage structure is presented. In the method, an equivalent drainage structure is suggested to replace the original drainage. It has enough size to be easily presented in the three-dimensional (3d) model of a tailings dam. According to a back analysis procedure using the quasi-3d models of a tailings dam with original and equivalent drainage structures, the material properties of the equivalent drainage structure can be obtained under the principle of drainage capacity equivalence. It is demonstrated that the suggested method is accurate enough to capture the seepage field in a tailings dam based on comparing the calculated and measured phreatic lines in a tailings dam for verification. Then, the method is employed to investigate the seepage field in a tailings dam in China for a case study. The rise of water level, damage of drainage structure, or increase of tailings discharge speed and time will lift up phreatic line. After terminating tailings discharge, phreatic line will first rise and then fall. The effect of tailings discharge on phreatic line will almost disappear after terminating tailings discharge for 24 h.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Suggested Equivalent Method for a Drainage Structure to Analyze Seepage in Tailings Dam

Zhang

Shen²,

Liu³

et al. 2022

Materials

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“…The reduction of risks that has occurred as a result of the case studies presented mostly relate to improvements in water management. Shortcomings in this area have often contributed to the TSF failures reported in the literature (International Committee on Large Dams 2001; Azam & Li 2010;Rico et al 2008;Clarkson & Williams 2021). A summary of key elements achieved that related to risk mitigation through reductions in the probability of failure include:…”

Section: Risk Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving the design intent, reducing risk and saving costs of tailings storage facilities

Coffey¹,

Plunkett²,

Patel³

et al. 2021

Paste 2021: 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings

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The mining industry continuously strives to increase the effectiveness of tailings management practices to minimise impacts on people and the environment. A commonly stated objective of operations is to achieve the design intent, but is this clearly communicated by designers and understood by stakeholders? Planning, operating, monitoring and closing a tailings storage facility (TSF) can present many challenges, especially in dynamic mining environments where site conditions vary spatially and with time. However, big impacts can be made at relatively small cost once the tailings management system, design and performance are well defined and understood. This paper presents various examples of initiatives aimed at achieving the design intent that have been adopted by Rio Tinto Iron Ore, which also reduce risks and improve tailings management performance. Examples presented include development and communication of short-term, long-term and life-of-facility deposition plans, implementation of simple deposition management tools, monitoring and managing slurry density, development and continual oversight of water balance models, and sound investment in water management infrastructure extending to safe performance in emergency situations. Regular governance was also implemented to provide assurance that these controls remain effective. These improvements also provide a financial benefit in the form of deferred capital expenditure due to the achievement of greater in situ densities of tailings deposits; a fortuitous by-product of following the principles within the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) (Global Tailings Review 2020) and other industry guidance documents. As such, this paper aims to illustrate the benefits of continually improving tailings management practices with a focus on simple and in some cases novel approaches.

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“…The failure of the tailings dam poses a threat to the safety of downstream residents and the natural environment, making it a crucial topic of research for the prevention of accidents involving tailings dam (Sun et al, 2012;Clarkson et al, 2021). Numerous variables impact geotechnical properties, resulting in tailings dam failure (Li et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction model investigations of the reinforced fine-grained tailings dam overtopping failure

et al. 2023

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Overtopping dam break is a frequent accident in tailings reservoirs. However, little attention has been paid to the study of overtopping hydraulic erosion damage characteristics of tailings dam after adding reinforcement. Nowadays, there were few people have researched the prediction of the overtopping failure process of the reinforced tailings dam. It is important significance to establish a prediction model for the overtopping of reinforced tailings dam which aims at the problem of overtopping erosion of reinforced tailings. For the anti-erosion and anti-collapse effects of the reinforced tailings dam, a mathematical model for the development of the overtopping breach of the reinforced tailings dam is established. The formula of reinforced erosion rate derived from water flow shear stress theory, simulation of breach erosion development by time iteration method in the mathematical model. Secondly, the limit equilibrium method is used to analyze the stability of the reinforced breach slope. Then, the physical test is used to reproduce the dam failure process of the tailings dam. In addition, the development process of the breach and discharge are monitored. Ultimately, the maximum depth and width of the breach are in brilliant agreement with the calculated values.

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An Overview of Conventional Tailings Dam Geotechnical Failure Mechanisms

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

A Suggested Equivalent Method for a Drainage Structure to Analyze Seepage in Tailings Dam

A Suggested Equivalent Method for a Drainage Structure to Analyze Seepage in Tailings Dam

Achieving the design intent, reducing risk and saving costs of tailings storage facilities

Prediction model investigations of the reinforced fine-grained tailings dam overtopping failure

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