Authors: Hancock, G; Coulthard, TJ

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2215_74

Cite As:
Hancock, G & Coulthard, TJ 2022, 'Predicting the long-term erosional stability of valley fill tailings dams using a computer-based landscape evolution model', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett & G Boggs (eds), Mine Closure 2022: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1013-1024, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2215_74

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
Tailings are commonly stored in ‘tailings dams’ where the particulate component can settle out and such dams are a feature of many mine sites. As they impound water and sediment, tailings dams can be at risk from both catastrophic and gradual failure, especially if unmanaged. Therefore, in many post-mining landscapes, tailings dams will be permanent features. A fundamental question for their management is, can tailings dams ever be walk-away structures? Catastrophic failure occurs when there is a large-scale rapid structural failure of the dam wall suddenly releasing large quantities of water and sediment. Further, over time, there will be the increased risk of gradual failure by the slow infilling of the dam and the erosion of the dam wall. This occurs where water overtops the dam wall and then incises through the wall due to a loss of freeboard in the dam, a situation which is more likely in legacy tailings dams where they have been filled, vegetated and abandoned. This work demonstrates how a computer-based landscape evolution model (CAESAR-Lisflood) can be used to assess a hypothetical tailings dam failure risk for the gradual failure situation. Using a conceptual setting, our findings demonstrate that given average climate conditions, a dam can be sufficiently robust to last centuries. CAESAR-Lisflood also can model runoff and here the assessment includes modelling of water quality both during mine operation and post-breach. Tailings can be contained if there is maintenance and/or an increase in the dam wall height over time or a more robust dam wall constructed to manage extreme events. However, erosion and infill will continue to reduce the integrity of a more robust structure over time. Therefore, it is highly likely that tailings dams will require continued monitoring and maintenance.

Keywords: CAESAR-Lisflood, mine closure, dam closure, environmental risk, water quality

References:
Armstrong, M, Langrené, N, Petter R, Chen, W &Petter, C 2019, ‘Accounting for tailings dam failures in the valuation of mining projects’, Resources Policy, vol. 63, no. 101461,
Bates, PD, Horritt, MS & Fewtrell, TJ 2010, ‘A simple inertia formulation of the shallow water equation for efficient two-dimensional flood inundation modelling’, Journal of Hydrology, vol. 387, pp. 33–45.
Beven, K & Kirkby, MJ 1979, ‘A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology’ (Un modèle à base physique de zone d’appel variable de l’hydrologie du bassin versant), Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, vol. 24, pp. 43–69.
Canadian Dam Association 2014, Technical Bulletin: Application of Dam Safety Guidelines to Mining Dams, CDA, Ottawa.
Coulthard, TJ, Macklin, MG &Kirkby, MJ, 2002, ‘Simulating upland river catchment and alluvial fan evolution’, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 27, pp. 269–288.
Coulthard, TJ, Neal, JC, Bates, PD, Ramirez, J, de Almeida, GAM & Hancock, GR 2013, ‘Integrating the LISFLOOD-FP 2D hydrodynamic model with the CAESAR model: implications for modelling landscape evolution’, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 38, no. 15, pp. 1897–1906,
CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology 2015, Climate Change in Australia Information for Australia’s Natural Resource Management Regions: Technical Report, CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology,
Dibike, YB, Shakibaeinia, A, Droppo, IG & Caron, E 2018, ‘Modelling the potential effects of oil-sands tailings pond breach on the water and sediment quality of the lower Athabasca River’, Science of The Total Environment, vol. 642, pp. 1263–1281,
Dong, L, Deng, S & Wang, F 2020, ‘Some developments and new insights for environmental sustainability and disaster control of tailings dam’, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 269, no. 122270,
Edraki, M, Baumgartl, T, Manlapig, E, Bradshaw, D, Franks, DM & Moran, CJ 2014, ‘Designing mine tailings for better environmental, social and economic outcomes: a review of alternative approaches’, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 84, pp. 411–420,
Hancock, GR 2021, ‘A method for assessing the long-term integrity of tailings dams’,Science of The Total Environment, vol. 779, 146083,
Hancock, GR & Lowry, JBC 2015, ‘Hillslope erosion measurement—a simple approach to a complex process’, Hydrological Processes, vol. 29, no. 22, pp. 4809–4816,
Hancock, GR & Willgoose, GR 2003, ‘A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of experimental model catchment evolution’, Hydrological Processes, vol. 17, pp. 2347–2363.
Hancock, GR & Willgoose GR 2018, ‘Sustainable mine rehabilitation – 25 years of the SIBERIA landform evolution and long-term erosion model’, From Start to Finish: A Life-Of-Mine Perspective, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne.
Hancock, GR, Willgoose, GR & Loch, R 2003, ‘The design of post-mining landscapes using geomorphic guidelines’, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 28, pp. 1097–1110.
ICOLD 2001, Tailings Dam Risk of Dangerous Occurrences; Lessons Learnt from Practical Experiences, International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), Bulletin 121, Paris.
Kossoff, D, Dubbin, WE, Alfredsson, M, Edwards, SJ, Macklin, MG & Hudson-Edwards, KA 2014, ‘Mine tailings dams: characteristics, failure, environmental impacts, and remediation’, Applied Geochemistry, vol. 51, pp. 229–245,
Mahdi, A, Shakibaeinia, A & Dibike, YB 2020, ‘Numerical modelling of oil-sands tailings dam breach runout and overland flow’, Science of the Total Environment, vol. 703, no. 134568,
Martín-Moreno, C, Martín Duque, JF, Nicolau, JM, Muñoz, A & Zapico, I 2018, ‘Waste dump erosional landform stability – a critical issue for mountain mining’, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 43, pp. 1431–1450.
McKenna, G &Van Zyl, D 2020, ‘Closure and reclamation’, in B Oberle, D Brereton & A Mihaylova (eds), Towards Zero Harm: A Compendium of Papers Prepared for the Global Tailings Review, Global Tailings Review.
Moise, A, Abbs, D, Bhend, J, Chiew, F, Church, J, Ekström, M, … & Whetton P 2015, Monsoonal North Cluster Report, Climate Change in Australia Projections for Australia’s Natural Resource Management Regions: Cluster Reports, E Ekström, P Whetton, C Gerbing, M Grose, L Webb & J Risbey (eds), CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, Canberra.
Moliere, DR, Evans, KG & Turner K 2008, ‘Effect of an extreme storm event on catchment hydrology and sediment t transport in the Magela Creek catchment, Northern Territory’, Proceedings of the Water Down Under 2008, Hydrology & Water Resources Symposium, Institute of Engineers Australia, Modbury.
Moliere, DR, Evans KG, Willgoose, G & Saynor, MJ 2002, Temporal trends in erosion and hydrology for a post-mining landform at Ranger Mine, Northern Territory, Supervising Scientist report 165, Supervising Scientist, Darwin.
Oberle, B, Brereton, D & Mihaylova, A 2020, Towards Zero Harm: A Compendium of Papers Prepared for the Global Tailings Review, Global Tailings Review,
Rana, NM, Ghahramani, N, Evans, SG, McDougall, S, Small, A & Take, WA 2021, ‘Catastrophic mass flows resulting from tailings impoundment failures’, Engineering Geology, vol. 292, no. 106262,
Rico, M, Benito, G, Salgueiro, AR, Díez-Herrero, A & Pereira, HG 2008, ‘Reported tailings dam failures: a review of the European incidents in the worldwide context’, Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 152, pp. 846–852,
Schafer, HL, Slingerland, N, Macciotta, R & Beier, NZ 2018, Overview of current state of practice for closure of tailings dams, Proceedings of the 6th International Oil Sands Tailings Conference,
Slingerland, N, Isidoro, A, Fernandez, S & Beier, NA 2018, ‘Geomorphic analysis for tailings dam design in consideration of a 1000year closure design life’, Proceedings of Planning for Closure 2018, 2nd International Conference on Planning for Closure of Mining Operations, Gecamin, Santiago.
Slingerland, N, Zhang, F & Beier, NA 2022, ‘Sustainable design of tailings dams using geotechnical and geomorphic analysis’, CIM Journal, vol. 13, pp. 1–15,
Supervising Scientist 2021, Landform Stability — Rehabilitation Standard for the Ranger Uranium Mine (Version 1), Supervising Scientist Branch, Darwin,




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au