Abstract
Different regions worldwide have adopted various approaches to tailings management, as a result of the site settings and local practices as they have evolved. Tailings dam failures have continued to occur in both developing and developed countries, necessitating a range of tailings management approaches. These failures, while rare, continue to occur at a frequency that exceeds both industry and society expectations, and there is much to be learned from well-documented cases. Tailings management continues to be overly reliant on a net present value approach using a high discount factor, rather than a whole-of-life approach that may result in safer and more stable tailings facilities and may also facilitate the eventual mine closure. There is a need for the further development and implementation of new tailings management technologies and innovations, and for the application of whole-of-life costing of tailings facilities. Changes in tailings management will most readily be achieved at new mining projects, making change across the minerals industry a generational process.
Highlights
The conventional deposition of slurry tailings behind dams that are raised progressively has led to an unacceptably high rate of catastrophic tailings dam failures, resulting in fatalities, damage to infrastructure and environmental harm
This change was initiated by tailings professionals, who questioned whether stable tailings dams could be constructed and operated in their highly seismic setting, and who made changes that ensured this was possible
The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and accompanying guides transpired as a result of the catastrophic tailings dam failure near Brumadinho in Brazil in January 2019
Summary
The conventional deposition of slurry tailings behind dams that are raised progressively has led to an unacceptably high rate of catastrophic tailings dam failures, resulting in fatalities, damage to infrastructure and environmental harm. Tailings dam failures that lead to high fatalities can prompt dramatic change, such as occurred in Chile, following the catastrophic El Cobre tailings dam failure during an earthquake. This change was initiated by tailings professionals, who questioned whether stable tailings dams could be constructed and operated in their highly seismic setting, and who made changes that ensured this was possible. The key features and requirements of the GISTM and the accompanying guides are reviewed, as is a comprehensive range of alternatives to the conventional deposition of slurry tailings behind dams.
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