Exploration and Research on the Propagation Law of Seepage Risk Network in Tailings Storage Facility

Florentino Borondo,Zhixin Zhen,Xuewei Ma,Bo Ma

doi:10.1155/2021/8704259

Abstract

The seepage accident of a tailings pond poses a serious threat to the stability of tailings dams and the surrounding environment. To reduce the occurrence of seepage accidents, this paper studies the identification of seepage hazards, the propagation law of seepage risk, the importance of hazards, and the priority of hazard treatment. To overcome the subjectivity and omission of hazard identification, according to the complexity and dynamics of tailings seepage, this paper proposes the evidence-based identification method of three-dimensional seepage hazards (EIMTSH) to identify the hazards of the tailings seepage system and the relationship between hazards. Then, on the basis of identifying the hazards of the tailings seepage system, the propagation network of seepage risk in tailing ponds (PNSRTP) is constructed based on the complex network theory. By analyzing the characteristics of the PNSRTP, it can be found that the propagation of seepage risk is scale-free and small-world. Through the node deletion method, this paper finds that the nodes with a higher degree value can reduce the network efficiency more quickly and should be governed first. By giving priority to the treatment of hazards with higher degree, the propagation of seepage risk can be reduced more quickly and the risk management level of tailings ponds can be improved, which is helpful to realize the sustainable development of mining production.

Highlights

Tailings pond is a kind of geotechnical facility used for storing mine waste, which is called tailings in the mining industry. e composition of tailings is very complex, which may show strong corrosive, volatile, acidic, and other characteristics affected by the types of minerals mined
In this paper, according to the characteristics of the tailing pond seepage system with the dynamic change of tailing pond life cycle, combined with industry laws and regulations and technical specifications, the seepage hazards of tailing ponds are divided into three modes or three states from the perspective of safety production. e first state is the dormant hazard, which is the initial factor or event to cause the seepage
Conclusion is paper uses the proposed evidence-based identification method of three-dimensional seepage hazards (EIMTSH) to identify the hazards of the tailings pond seepage system and obtains a hazard list supported by evidence. is list includes a total of 313 hazards and 1912 relationships among hazards. is list will help decision makers and scientists to actively participate in the evidence-based risk assessment process for tailing pond seepage

Summary

Introduction

Tailings pond is a kind of geotechnical facility used for storing mine waste, which is called tailings in the mining industry. e composition of tailings is very complex, which may show strong corrosive, volatile, acidic, and other characteristics affected by the types of minerals mined. In order to improve the design, management, and follow-up restoration of the landfill site, Shu et al proposed a new simplified method to calculate breakthrough time of municipal solid waste landfill liners [5]. He et al studied the biological damage to Sprague-Dawley rats by contaminated groundwater from rare earth metals tailings pond seepage at the individual, organ, tissue, and cell level [6]. Zhen et al initially tried to apply the important nodes of complex network identified by the network centrality index to the prevention of tailing pond accidents [27]

Research Overview

Identification of Seepage Hazard in Tailings Pond

Propagation Network of Seepage Risk in Tailings Pond

Design defects of emergency plan

Analysis of Network Statistical Characteristics

Literature

Findings

Accident Case Supporting Evidence