Kimberly Finke Morrison - Tailings Management Handbook-Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration (2022)

2050 Pages·2022·54.499 MB·English

by  Kimberly Finke Morrison, she's really hot for her age

T AILINGS
MANAGEMENT
HANDBOOK
A LIFE-CYCLE APPROACH
Edited by Kimberly Finke Morrison
T AILINGS
MANAGEMENT
HANDBOOK
A LIFE-CYCLE APPROACH
Edited by Kimberly Finke Morrison
PUBLISHED BY THE
SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY & EXPLORATION
Copyright © 2022 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. All rights reserved.
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!SME_2021_TalingsMgmtHB_TitlePg_F1.indd 1 10/13/21 10:20 AM
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)
12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle
Englewood, Colorado, USA 80112
(303)948‑4200 / (800) 763‑3132
www.smenet.org
SME advances the worldwide mining and underground construction community through information
exchange and professional development.
Copyright © 2022 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.
Electronic edition published 2022.
All Rights Reserved. Printed in Canada.
Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME from sources believed to be reliable. However, nei‑
ther SME nor its authors and editors guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein,
and neither SME nor its authors and editors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out
of use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors and editors are
supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. Any statement or
views presented herein are those of individual authors and editors and are not necessarily those of SME. The men‑
tion of trade names for commercial products does not imply the approval or endorsement of SME.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
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publisher.
ISBN 978‑0‑87335‑490‑5
Ebook 978‑0‑87335‑491‑2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for
Cover photos courtesy of Newmont:
Tailings Management Area, Musselwhite Mine, Ontario, Canada
F1/F3 Residue Disposal Area, Boddington Mine, Western Australia, Australia
Reclaimed Aunor A Tailings Facility, Porcupine Mine, Ontario, Canada
Cell 1 and Cell 2 Tailings Storage Facility, Akyem Mine, Ghana
Copyright © 2022 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. All rights reserved.
_Tailings Management Handbook.indb 2 11/1/21 11:41 AM
Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
About the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Contributing Authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Technical Reviewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xix
PART I: BASICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1 What Are Tailings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 Influences of Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
3 Mineral and Tailings Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
4 Overview of Tailings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
5 Conventional Tailings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
6 Dewatered Tailings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
7 In-Pit Tailings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
8 Underground Mine Backfill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
9 Other Tailings Management Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
PART II: LIFE-CYCLE PLANNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
10 Stage-Gate Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
11 Environmental Permitting and Regulatory Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
12 Sizing and Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
13 Site and Technology Selection Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
14 Tailings Breach Studies and Inundation Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
15 Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
16 Closure Planning and Landform Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235
17 Future of Tailings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
PART III: SITE AND TAILINGS CHARACTERIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315
18 Site Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317
19 Seismic Hazard Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .345
20 Climate and Hydrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361
21 Hydrogeologic Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .387
22 Karst Hydrogeology and Geohazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .421
23 Foundation Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441
24 Tailings Laboratory Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479
25 Characterization of In-Place Tailings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .495
iii
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iv COnTEnTS
PART IV: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .529
26 Design Basis Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .531
27 Uncertainty and Reliability-Based Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .543
28 Geotechnical Design Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .551
29 Water Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .581
30 Hydrotechnical Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .605
31 Liner Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .613
32 Filters, Drains, and Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639
33 Tailings Deposition Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .659
34 Tailings Transport Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685
35 Water Reclaim Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .697
36 Construction Quality Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .713
PART V: SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .729
37 Tailings Management Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .731
38 Risk Assessment and Risk Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .749
39 Operational Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .781
40 Operations, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .805
41 Observational Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .821
42 Monitoring Systems and Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835
43 Systems Approach to Tailings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .859
PART VI: CASE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .875
1 Anatomy of a Tailings Reclamation Project: San Xavier Tailings Storage Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .877
2 CBMM Dam 8 niobium Tailings Storage Facility Design, Minas Gerais, Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .879
3 CBMM Integrated Monitoring Center Provides Continuous Real-Time Dam Monitoring, Minas Gerais, Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . .881
4 Cerro Verde Expansion Project, Cerro Verde Mine, Arequipa, Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .884
5 Closure of a Conventional Tailings Storage Facility in a Seismically Active Tropical Environment, Marlin Mine,
San Marcos, Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .886
6 Cone Penetration Test Results Reflect Operational Improvements, Peñsaquito Mine, Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .889
7 Conversion from Conventional Slurry to Thickened Tailings Deposition, Musselwhite Mine, Ontario, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . .892
8 Conversion of a Tailings Storage Facility from a Cycloned Embankment to Earth Fill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .895
9 Design and Closure Considerations, Bunkers Hill In-Pit Tailings Storage Facility, Tanami Operations,
northern Territory, Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .896
10 Evolution of Brazilian Tailings Regulations in Response to Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899
11 Geological Constraints on the Cadia Slump and Implications for Site Characterization, Cadia Valley
Operations, Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .903
12 Geotechnical Studies to Improve Understanding of Material Parameters and Tailings Storage Facility
Performance and Address Changes in Stability Requirements, Granny Smith Gold Mine, Western Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . .907
13 Implementation of Passive Beach Drains, Boddington’s F1/F3 Residue Disposal Area, Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .911
14 Importance of Cross-Functional Communication and Collaboration in Developing a Successful Cemented
Paste Backfill Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .916
15 Innovative Post-Mining Land Use: Siting Renewable Energy Projects on Reclaimed Tailings Storage Facilities . . . . . . . . . .918
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COnTEnTS v
16 Integrated Waste Rock Co-Deposition at the Éléonore Mine Tailings Storage Facility to Improve Geotechnical
Stability and Facilitate Site Drainage, James Bay, Quebec, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .920
17 Learnings and Outcomes from Córrego do Feijão Iron Ore Mine, Minas Gerais, Brumadinho, Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .924
18 Management of Wet Cycles at Mine Facilities, Saskatchewan, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .927
19 Modeling Overland Flow of Tailings Slurries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .929
20 Modifying a Conceptual Site Model Through Additional Data Analysis and Visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .931
21 Omai Tailings Embankment Failure, Guyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .933
22 Open Pit Co-Deposition Closure Backfill, Marlin Mine, San Marcos, Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935
23 Precipitation Forecasting for Tailings Storage Facility Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .938
24 Process Safety Approach to Tailings Management: Critical Control Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .941
25 Quantifying Uncertainty in Groundwater Heads Beneath a Tailings Storage Facility, Arizona, United States . . . . . . . . . . . . .944
26 Repurposing Tailings and Other Earth Material Waste into Ceramics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 948
27 Rock-Fill Dam Construction at a Tailings Storage Facility, Bagdad Mine, Arizona, United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .950
28 Sand Tailings Deposition Through L Lines on Slopes on High Embankments, Cerro Verde Mine, Arequipa, Peru . . . . . . . . .953
29 Seismic Behavior of Chilean Downstream-Constructed Tailings Sand Dams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .955
30 Seismic Deformation Analysis of Tailings Impoundment no . 2, Mine niobec, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .959
31 Sierrita Buttress Design and Construction, Sierrita Mine, Green Valley, Arizona, United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .961
32 Stava Tailings Basins Failure, Stava, Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .964
33 Successful Conversions of Former Slurry Tailings Embankments into Filtered Tailings Storage Facilities,
Durango, Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .966
34 Surface Deposition of High-Sulfide Paste Tailings, neves Corvo Mine, Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .969
35 Systematic and Sustainable Tailings Storage Facility Dust Control, Peñasquito Mine, Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .971
36 Tailings Deposition in Open Pits at Cameco’s Key Lake and Rabbit Lake In-Pit Facilities, northern
Saskatchewan, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .973
37 Tailings Storage Facility Developed Within a Heap Leach Facility, Yanacocha Mine, Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .975
38 Usage of Merged Topographic and Bathymetric Survey Data to Drive Pond Management Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .977
39 Use of Wick Drains to Stabilize a Filtered Tailings Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .980
40 Upstream Raise Tailings Storage Facility Design Considerations at newmont’s Tanami Operations,
northern Territory, Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .981
41 Using a Mobile and Enterprise Geographic Information System for Improved Inspection Documentation
and Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .984
42 Utilizing High-Frequency Satellite Imagery to Improve Water Balance Model Calibration and Forecasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .988
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .991
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Preface
As long as we have mining and mineral processing, tailings and the responsible management
thereof will remain at the forefront, with a company’s environmental, social, and governance
(ESG) performance in part a reflection of how well tailings risks are being managed. Worldwide
production of tailings increases with every decade. The trend of increasing tailings production
has also resulted in the construction of larger surface tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and an
increase in the number of incidents and severity of consequences associated with facility failure.
Since 2001, catastrophic surface TSF failures have occurred at a rate of approximately
two per year. With each failure, stakeholders, including the public, regulators, investors, and
owners, grow more cautious of tailings management practices. On January 25, 2019, Dam I at
the Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine near Brumadinho, Brazil, failed with catastrophic conse‑
quences, rapidly shaping the way the industry, its investors, and its insurers view tailings facility
safety. Regulations in Brazil were changed nearly overnight, while the failure had further‑reach‑
ing effects. Of note, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Principles for Responsible Investment
(PRI) co‑convened an independent Global Tailings Review (GTR) in March 2019 to establish
an international standard for TSFs. The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management
(GISTM), which was published on August 5, 2020, aims to prevent catastrophic failure of
tailings facilities by providing operators with specified measures and approaches throughout
the mine life cycle, taking into account multiple stakeholder perspectives. Compliance with
the GISTM is an ICMM member company commitment, with greater uptake encouraged by
the industry as a whole.
In 2021, the Tailings Working Group of ICMM developed the Tailings Management: Good
Practice Guide to support implementation of the GISTM. The ICMM guidance is intended to
support safe, responsible management of tailings across the global mining industry, providing
guidance on good governance and engineering practices to support continual improvement
in TSF management and help foster and strengthen the safety culture of mining companies.
Development of the first edition of this handbook is timely, with no other comprehensive
resource on tailings rooted in these “new” fundamentals and global principles for tailings
management.
With the implementation of the GISTM and the industry’s heightened interest in respon‑
sible management of their TSFs, clearly there is a shortage of trained and qualified individu‑
als to serve as the responsible tailings facility engineers (RTFEs), engineers of record (EoRs),
and independent tailings review board (ITRB) members of the present into the future. As
such, this handbook is anticipated to support education and competency‑building of students,
young professionals, and even those in their mid to late careers to support filling of these key
roles. Tailings management is interesting, challenging, and rewarding, and comprises a robust
vii
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viii PREFACE
career path in its own right. Tailings management also requires interdisciplinary and cross‑
functional understanding and support, which is apparent throughout this handbook.
This handbook is divided into six parts:
Part I: Basics provides background or fundamental information on tailings manage‑
■
ment, including what tailings are and how they are produced; the influences of water;
and ways in which tailings are deposited on the surface, in mined‑out pits, or under‑
ground workings, and in other ways such as subaqueous deposition or co‑deposition
with other mine waste.
Part II: Life-Cycle Planning provides a detailed overview of life‑cycle planning, recog‑
■
nizing that tailings should always be managed with closure in mind to limit long‑term
impacts while also leveraging improved technologies (e.g., reduce the quantities of tail‑
ings, improved monitoring processes). This part includes discussion of the stage‑gate
process, environmental permitting and regulatory drivers, sizing and layout, and site and
technology selection studies, which are ultimately used to develop a facility that requires
a clear understanding of consequences of a failure, planning for emergency preparedness
and response, and planning for closure.
Part III: Site and Tailings Characterization provides a detailed discussion of tailings
■
and site characterization, including geohazards (e.g., karst, seismicity), which is required
once a site and technology is selected for development of a TSF, and throughout the
facility life cycle to support continual development of the knowledge base.
Part IV: Design and Construction provides details on TSF design and construction,
■
using information stemming from the former parts such as site and tailings characteriza‑
tion. Specifically, this part includes design basis documentation development, design
analyses, design elements (e.g., liners, filters, drains), tailings deposition planning and
transport systems, water reclaim systems, and construction quality management, sup‑
ported by a discussion on uncertainty and reliability‑based design.
Part V: Systems and Operations provides information on systems and operations,
■
which are critical to the successful management of a TSF throughout its life cycle,
including tailings management systems detailing roles, responsibilities, and governance
aspects; risk assessment and management; operational considerations; and facility per‑
formance monitoring.
Part VI: Case Studies benefits from a plethora of real‑world successes and lessons
■
learned thanks to the sharing of numerous individuals and organizations.
With more than 100 authors from around the globe contributing to the development of
this handbook, including numerous world‑renowned experts in their fields of study, the indus‑
try’s need for this resource is abundantly clear.
—Kimberly Finke Morrison
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Acknowledgments
The managing editor and chapter and case study authors acknowledge the support, assistance,
and contributions of all of the organizations and individuals who helped make this book a real‑
ity, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)’s Tailings and Mine
Waste Committee and those who served as section leads to drive chapters to completion, nota‑
bly Katie Kruger, Heather Lammers, Matt Malgesini, Christina Winckler, Priscilla Nelson, and
Phillip Crouse.
Thanks also go to the Tailings Working Group of the International Council on Mining
and Metals (ICMM) and member companies, notably Newmont, Freeport‑McMoRan, BHP,
Newcrest, Gold Fields, Anglo American, and Teck Resources for their willingness to share case
studies, photographs, and other technical content in the interest of advancing global tailings
management.
The editor and authors extend their gratitude to the members of the independent technical
review board (ITRB) of the Northern Tailings Storage Facility (NTSF) embankment failure at
the Cadia Valley operations as well as Newcrest Mining Limited (NML) and NML’s person‑
nel who proactively facilitated the ITRB investigations. Thanks also go to the members of the
ITRB who investigated the failure of Feijão Dam I and Vale for sharing key lessons learned.
Without the active participation in development and review of content by the mem‑
ber organizations of the Global Minerals Professionals Alliance (GMPA) and their Global
Action on Tailings (GAT), as well as collaboration with universities and consortiums advanc‑
ing programs in tailings and mine waste management, notably Colorado State University
(CSU), Colorado School of Mines (CSM), University of Queensland (UQ), University of
British Columbia (UBC), TAILENG (which includes Georgia Institute of Technology, CSU,
University of California‑Berkeley, and University of Illinois) and the Tailings Center (which
includes CSM, CSU, and the University of Arizona), this book would not be a reality.
Technical input and valuable contributions, particularly with respect to tailings risk man‑
agement, were provided by John Lupo (Newmont), long‑time mentor of the managing editor.
Katherine Brown‑Hoekstra is thanked for her technical editing. And thanks also go to RST
Instruments for their monitoring instrumentation support.
Further, the managing editor would like to extend heartfelt thanks to SME’s editorial
team, particularly Jane Olivier and Terese Platten, who managed the fine details of complet‑
ing this publication; and acknowledge the many contributions by others, who unintentionally
go unnamed.
Finally, the managing editor thanks her family (Eric, Evan, and Kendall) who shared her
“free” time over the past year with development of this handbook.
ix
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