Thomas, A & Fitton, TG 2011, 'Analysis of tailings beach slopes based on slurry pipeline experience', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2011: Proceedings of the 14th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 295-306, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1104_27_Fitton
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1104_27_Fitton/)
Abstract: Slurry pipeline technology has evolved over the past 50 years and prediction methods for all types of slurries, ranging from coarse solids in water to highly non-Newtonian slurries, are reasonably well developed. In comparison, prediction methods for tailings flow down a beach and the resulting beach slope, are less well developed although the two types of flow are obviously related to some extent.

The current paper analyses open channel flow down a tailings beach using approaches developed for pipe flow. Predictive slope equations are presented. The resulting predicted slopes are compared with a range of measured slopes in both flume experiments and tailings deposit slopes at a number of operating mines.