Tailings Water Hydraulics Analyses for Risk Based Design

摘要

Commensurate objectives of optimal water use, as well as of risk based design criteria, require viable estimates of the hydraulic behaviour of impounded materials during deposition and post closure. The HYDRUS-2D soil-water physics model is used to illustrate ranges of hydraulic behaviour in cycloned and spigotting deposition in metal tailings impoundments for a range of deposition criteria. The results summarise criteria leading to optimal water use, impoundment instabilities and unacceptable leaching below the impoundment. These criteria can be applied to optimise water use during tailings deposition as well as satisfy predictions during risk based design.