Thamae, M & Nxumalo, M 2010, 'Challenges affecting structural stability in the design and construction of waste rock dumps at Nkomati Mine, South Africa', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Mine Waste 2010: Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the Reduction of Risk in the Management of Tailings and Mine Waste, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 119-127, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1008_11_Thamae
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1008_11_Thamae/)
Abstract: Successful prevention of slope failures and management of the risk associated with potential failures in mine 
waste rock dumps is accomplished by identifying factors affecting the dumps slope stability at different 
stages of the mine development. Appropriate measures are applied at each stage as the extent of risk is 
understood. As opposed to many mines in South Africa where the impact of factors which adversely affect 
waste rock dump stability are usually limited, Nkomati Mine is located in an area where waste rock dumps 
have had to be sited at the most unfavourable conditions. This paper describes challenges that have been 
identified during the feasibility and design stages and how they are dealt with during the construction and 
monitoring of the dumps. The paper highlights the use of geological models on the material zoning within the 
rock dumps and the obstacles associated with insufficient data during field investigations. Further, it 
discusses the seemingly divergent challenges faced by the technical staff and operational management, 
where technical staff invariably tends to recommend conservative risk control measures while the 
management is understandably interested in optimising returns. Furthermore, the challenges of constructing 
dump walls whilst also focussing on mine production issues are also highlighted.