Tailings Management

Disposal of ore processing residues

Quelle/Source: Takraf Tenova

19 Abraumdeponierung • Dry stack tailings storage

Quelle/Source: Takraf Tenova

Quelle/Source: Samarco

Der neue Santarem Rückhalte-Damm in Mariana/Brasilien • The new Santarem retention dam in Mariana/Brazil

Quelle/Source: Samarco

Quelle/Source: Antonio Cruz, Agencia Brasil

1 Samarco Schlammlavine • Samarco tailings slurry spill

Quelle/Source: Antonio Cruz, Agencia Brasil

Quelle/Source: Imperial Metals

2 Dammreparatur Mount Polley • Dam repair at Mount Polley

Quelle/Source: Imperial Metals

Quelle/Source: Newcrest Mining

3 Dammbruch bei der Cadia Gold • Dam collapse at Cadia Gold

Quelle/Source: Newcrest Mining

Quelle/Source: ICOLD, OneStone Research

4 Zahl von Dammbrücken beim Mining • Number of dam failures in the mining industry

Quelle/Source: ICOLD, OneStone Research

5 Auswertung der Dammbrüche • Evaluation of dam failures

Quelle/Source: ICOLD, OneStone Research

Quelle/Source: SNC Lavalin

6 Schadensursachen • Causes of dam failure

Quelle/Source: SNC Lavalin

7 Rückstandsmengen [1] • Tailings quantities [1]

Quelle/Source: Agnico Eagle

8 Rückhaltebecken Goldmine LaRonde • Retention basin at the LaRonde goldmine

Quelle/Source: Agnico Eagle

Quelle/Source: Vale

9 Rückhaltebecken Kupfermine Sossego • Retention basin at the Sossego copper mine

Quelle/Source: Vale

10 Prozessentwicklung bei Tailings [3] • Process development for tailings management [3]

Quelle/Source: SRK Consulting

11 Ausrüstungskosten • Cost of equipment

Quelle/Source: SRK Consulting

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

12 Eindicker • Thickeners

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

Quelle/Source: Outotec

13 Anlage Siilinjärvi • Siilinjärvi plant

Quelle/Source: Outotec

14 Deponierung der Schlammpasten • Storage of slurry pastes

Quelle/Source: Outotec

15 Lösung für trockene Tailings • Solution for dry tailings

Quelle/Source: Outotec

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

16 Filterpressen • Filter presses

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

17 Bandabsetzer • Belt stacker

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

Quelle/Source: Metso

18 Filterpresse • Filter press

Quelle/Source: Metso

Summary: Events like the dam failure at the retention basin of the Samarco mine in Brazil almost three years ago once again illustrate the dangers of mining. But that’s not all. The disaster resulted in claims for billions of dollars in compensation and damaged the image of an entire industry. This report reviews the situation of dam safety in mining industry retention basins and shows what alternatives are available for the disposal of ore processing residues.

1‌ Introduction

On November 5^th, 2015, a major dam failure with devastating consequences occurred at a retention basin of the Samarco iron ore mine in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. The resultant outflow of tailings slurry buried the village of Bento Rodrigues, located about 8 km below the dam. The flood wave continued on for several hundred kilometers to the mouth of the Rio Doce. 19 people died, about 500 houses were destroyed, several hundred thousand people were cut off from their drinking water supply, flora and fauna were decimated and the coastal ecosystem was...