Abstract
In order to evaluate the superiority of a filtered tailings storage facility (FTSF) to conventional tailings impoundment in the southern rainy regions of China (SRRC), the tailings slurry leakage and pollution accident occurring at the wet tailings dam (WTD) of Yinshan were analyzed, the properties of the tailings were tested in a laboratory, and the possibility of tailings liquefaction was evaluated. Comparisons of the slope stabilities of the filtered tailings dam (FTD) and WTD in normal operation, flood, continuous rainfall, and earthquake situations were simulated using the Slide software. The results show that the FTD has less chance of seepage, lower failure probability, and limited potential destructiveness than the WTD with average slope safety factors of 2.120 for normal operation, 1.919 for flooding, 1.204 for continuous rainfall, and 1.724 for a magnitude-6.0 earthquake. The disaster chain model of the WTD of Yinshan belongs to the bursting and slippage chain. As the most safe and effective active prevention measure, the FTSF has the advantages of saving water, protecting the environment, improving its stability in flood and rainfall situations, and reducing the dam failure probability and potential losses, which is greatly applicable to the SRRC.
Highlights
The main purpose of a tailings dam is to contain the tailings slurry, which may contain several types of toxic substances and pose a risk to the nearby population and environment [1]
The upstream method of dam construction has resulted in the highest number of dam failure accidents in the southern rainy regions of China (SRRC) [3]
(1) Field research and laboratory tests have indicated that the wet tailings dam (WTD) of Yinshan is not safe, and the tailings are susceptible to liquefaction, especially in rainy days
Summary
The main purpose of a tailings dam is to contain the tailings slurry, which may contain several types of toxic substances and pose a risk to the nearby population and environment [1]. China has constructed more than 11,000 conventional tailings impoundments using the upstream method [2]. Easy to operate with a low initial cost, upstream tailings dams are inherently less stable than dams constructed using other methods. Because of their high amounts of sands and fines, the tailings are susceptible to liquefaction, and the failure of these dams can be disastrous for people, property, and the surrounding environment. The upstream method of dam construction has resulted in the highest number of dam failure accidents in the southern rainy regions of China (SRRC) [3].
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