(9)Surface Geophysic as a Tool for Operational Control of Tailings Deposits: ERT and MASW Based Examples

摘要

Actually Chileans norms define some criteria for the operational control of tailings deposits.However, the defined controls methods allows only punctual information along tailings depositsbut not a global information and even fewer can be obtained an image of the hydrogeological orgeotechnical condition of the tailings.Furthermore, traditionally surfaces geophysics methods are being use with success in basic studies(geotechnical, hydrogeological or geological studies) in the framework of tailings deposits projects.However the geophysical applications as complementary tools for geotechnical andhydrogeological controls in tailings deposits are rarely used.One of this surface geophysical tools is the Electric Resistivity Tomography (ERT) which offersbased resistivity images as data for control of filtrations, design, placement and operation ofmonitoring pits, water and saturations level in tailings, etc.The Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) also offers seismological based images whichallows some correlations between elastics waves and in situ physical measurements (SPT, Proctor,density, etc.).These tools should not replace traditional measurements. They should instead be seeing ascomplement to improve a) the quality of the information and b) the geotechnical andhydrogeological understanding of operational control of tailings deposits. Some actual exampleswill shows the advantages of use surfaces geophysical methods as complement to the ordinaryoperational tailings controls.Finally, the complete information based on traditional and geophysical measurements also enablesrisk situations to be early detected.