REMEDIATION MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FAILURE THE DAM OF THE MINING TAILINGS POND

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 21; no. 1.1; pp. 209 - 216
• Main Author: Slávik, Ivan
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Analysis; Construction; Dam failure; Dam stability; Dams; Drainage; Embankment stability; Embankments; Failure analysis; Feet; Geomaterials; Mine tailings; Mine wastes; Mining; Pond construction; Ponds; Remediation; Risk reduction; Rock masses; Rocks; Seismic engineering; Shear strength; Shear tests; Soil properties; Stability; Stability analysis; Tailings; Slovakia
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2021/1.1/s02.035
• ISSN: 1314-2704

A mining tailings pond is an engineering construction used for the safe deposition of unexploitable mining waste from mining facilities. This contribution presents a stability analysis of a mining tailings pond. The credibility of the results, when considering the stability of a tailings pond, is conditioned by the aptness of the computing model of the tailings pond, which actually describes not only the constructional arrangement, but also the properties of the geomaterials of the construction of an tailings pond and the surrounding rock mass. The stability analysis of mining tailings pond was realized by the use of the information database of the results of the regular monitoring of the geotechnical properties of the materials forming the tailings pond's body and the surrounding rock mass. During the operation of the tailings pond, the level of water in the body of the dam system of the tailings pond reached a level endangering its stability. The results of the stability analysis showed that the most endangered part of the dam system is the area of the basic dam. The implementation of a loading embankment at the foot of the basic dam of the tailings pond appeared to be the most suitable remediation option. The loading embankment made of coarse-grained material will support the stability of the dam system and at the same time will fulfill the function of a drainage element. The shear strength parameters of the coarse-grained material of the loading embankment were verified by direct shear test. The shape of the loading embankment at the foot of the tailings dam system was determined by stability analysis. The threat of failure of tailings dam system was reduced by the implementation of a loading embankment at the foot of its dam system.