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Tailings Storage Facilities, Impoundment, and Dams

This document discusses tailings storage facilities, impoundments, and dams. It defines tailings as crushed rock and soil particles that are waste from extracting grains or ores. Tailings management poses the largest risks and costs for mines. Three examples of major tailings dam failures at mines in Canada and Brazil are provided. The document outlines that tailings storage must be uniquely designed for each mine due to variations in ore and extraction processes. It describes the life cycle of a tailings facility from initial planning through closure.

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Kenneth Dionysus Santos
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29 views

Tailings Storage Facilities, Impoundment, and Dams

This document discusses tailings storage facilities, impoundments, and dams. It defines tailings as crushed rock and soil particles that are waste from extracting grains or ores. Tailings management poses the largest risks and costs for mines. Three examples of major tailings dam failures at mines in Canada and Brazil are provided. The document outlines that tailings storage must be uniquely designed for each mine due to variations in ore and extraction processes. It describes the life cycle of a tailings facility from initial planning through closure.

Uploaded by

Kenneth Dionysus Santos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITIES, IMPOUNDMENT, AND DAMS

Tailings – residue separated in the preparation of various products such as grains or ores

– waste  crushed ground rock and soil particles; may contain precipitates and/or residue
metals or minerals

Waste generation by economic activities and households

1. Construction – 34.7%
2. Mining and quarrying – 28.2%
3. Manufacturing – 10.2%

Tailings Management

 Largest elements of risk management and cost for a mine


 Failures results to loss of life
Devastating environmental damage
Closure of mining operations
Dramatic declines in share value
Personal liability of the mine management

Tailings Dam Failures

1. Mt. Polley Mine, British Columbia, Canada


2. Samarco, Brazil (worst tailings failure – 32 million cu. m)
3. Philex Mining Corp, Benguet (20 million tons)
Tailings management

 improving the design, operation, surveillance, and closure of tailings facilities


 tailings are unique from mine to mine
 linked to the ore and processes  each tailings facility is unique

Life Cycle of Tailings Facility

1. initial selection, planning, and design (approval)


2. construction of starter facility
3. operation and periodic construction of subsequent stages
4. decommissioning, closure, and post-closure
Types of tailings

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