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An Overview of Conventional Tailings Dam Geotechnical Failure Mechanisms

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Abstract

The intent of this paper is to provide overview context to allow broader understanding of conventional tailings dam failure mechanisms. The research leverages global knowledge, experience, and data collection and interpretation for the safe and controlled management of the geotechnical stability of a tailings storage facility. The motivation for this review is to facilitate transparent access to tailings dam background and understanding. This paper addresses the core understanding of geotechnical failure mechanisms, and how these eventuate to instability and failure of tailings dam structures. This research focuses on foundation failure, internal erosion and piping, overtopping, seepage, seismicity, and slope instability and provides insight into what factors contribute to failure, how failure progresses due to such failure, anticipating and monitoring for the aforementioned failure modes, and designing to mitigate their risk.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to recognise The University of Queensland and the Geotechnical Engineering Centre for the opportunity to explore this field and dedicate best efforts forward to empower others to achieve their potential in tailings dam safety. The authors would like to acknowledge GroundProbe for their technical and financial contributions to this Doctor of Philosophy and for upholding a genuine interest in safety over commercials. GroundProbe provided financial support for the conduct of the research, which supported the research through facilitation of international collaboration with the geotechnical community of practice, enhancing the perspectives and understanding as expressed in this research. The authors would like to acknowledge The Mining and Geotechnical community that the authors have made a network with as part of this work, particularly those involved in Tailings and Mine Waste 2017, and Slope Stability 2018, as well as from The University of Queensland and the Australian Government, for their influential and wide perspectives on global practice and how safety can be improved. The author would also like to recognise those that support unconditionally, irrespective of the degree of involvement in this work. Such positive attitudes and perspectives are interpersonal fuel to driving value in the technical setting.

Funding

This research was supported by GroundProbe, through a PhD grant awarded to the primary author, Luke Clarkson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical Engineering Centre, School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Luke Clarkson & David Williams

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  1. Luke Clarkson
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In alignment with the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT) methodology:

Luke Clarkson: conceptualisation, methodology, data curation, investigation, writing—original draft, verification, writing—review and editing

David Williams: project administration, supervision

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Correspondence to Luke Clarkson.

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Clarkson, L., Williams, D. An Overview of Conventional Tailings Dam Geotechnical Failure Mechanisms. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 38, 1305–1328 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00381-3

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