Implications of Removing Tailings Dams: A Case Study

Abstract

Water is a critical part of mines and processing plants, the management of which has environmental, social and financial implications. Water is closely linked to all activities on site, including residue storage methods. Tailings dams are the most common method of storing excess liquor and residue on site. However, tailings dam failures have resulted in loss of life, pollution of rivers, and devastated the surrounding communities. In light of these catastrophic failures, projects are investigating alternative methods to store residue, such as filtered tailings stacking or repurposing the residue. Removing tailings dams means removing the almost “infinite” storage of residue and liquor. This paper discusses the implications of removing tailings dams from a sitewide water and dissolved solids balance perspective. Due to the removal of the liquor storage associated with the tailings dams, buffer ponds need to be incorporated into the layout, along with a larger, more complex water treatment plant. These solutions increase both capital and operating cost of the site.