Finucane, SJ 2026, 'A closure practitioner's perspective on paste, thickened and filtered tailings', in AB Fourie, M Horta, M Oliveira & S Wilson (eds), Paste 2026: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-18, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2655_46
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2655_46_Finucane/)
Abstract: Tailings storage facilities are typically the largest features to remain at a mine following cessation of operations. As they will likely become part of the post-mining landscape in perpetuity, they need to be safe, stable, non-polluting and able to support the next land use agreed for these facilities. If these structures underperform post-closure, there is potential for significant social, environmental and economic risk. However, there is also opportunity to optimise closure outcomes as part of a sustainable and positive legacy. 
Closure planning is a fundamental requirement for all existing and planned mines and is at its best when conducted in a collaborative and integrated manner, commencing in the early stages of project planning. With the average lead time for mines continuing to rise, and with the average resource life for existing mines in some commodities stretching to beyond 100 years, a closure plan is the primary instrument for capturing and communicating closure data, closure designs and other information relevant to closure of tailings facilities as part of a mine site. 
One of the challenges facing closure planners is how to use often highly technical information to frame both closure risks and opportunities, and to solve complex multi-factor problems, and then to communicate these to both technical and non-technical audiences. This paper begins by outlining the role of a closure planner before reviewing some key closure terminology. It then outlines key tailings closure challenges and discusses how closure planning is addressed during all phases of the life cycle of a tailings facility. With reference to international case studies, this paper also provides practical suggestions on how the mining industry can do better in developing innovative and long-term solutions, sustainable outcomes and positive legacies when closing tailings facilities.

Keywords: tailings closure risks, tailings closure planning, stakeholder engagement, closure outcomes, collaboration, integrated closure planning