Preventing catastrophic failures and mitigating environmental impacts of tailings storage facilities

Mine tailings are usually deposited hydraulically, resulting in very large volumes of contaminated water having to be managed in a safe and economical manner. Poor operational practices often result in the release of contaminated water to the environment, sometimes resulting in catastrophic consequences. Even more of a concern is the potential hazard to communities living and working in close proximity to these facilities. There have been a large number of failures of TSFs internationally, with at least two failures in 2008 resulting in fatalities. Recent technological developments mean it is now possible to prepare, transport and place tailings at a much higher solids content than previously, leading to significantly reduced water consumption. The TSF can also be constructed more safely, potentially preventing catastrophic failures. This paper discusses these recent advances, and describes some of the mining operations around the world, which are now in excess of twenty, where the technology is being used. It highlights some of the operational difficulties, and some of the evolving design principles that must be considered when planning a thickened tailings deposit.