CIM Montreal - Tailings Management is about Water Management

Abstract:

One common denominator for most tailings storage facilities (TSF) failures in the last four decades has been inadequate water management. Whether it was pond location control, excessive seepage, high phreatic surfaces in the dams, poor seasonal planning or monitoring, or uncontrolled groundwater issues that were not considered in design, water has been at the core of many such unfortunate events. This presentation will discuss some of these failures and how water can be identified as the “real culprit” in most cases. It will also discuss some leading practices in water management as they relate to dam safety. The presentation will also take a hard look at (and bust) some myths, that somehow found a place in tailings management practice, and which have no impact in ensuring resilience and robustness of TSFs when managing upset water conditions.

Host or Publisher CIM Montreal Branch