TAILINGS DAMS – OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY AND FAILURE RELATED RISK MANAGEMENT
Abstract
The year 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the Prestavel tailings dam failure in Italy and the 5th anniversary of the tailings dam breach in Ajka, Hungary. The Ajka disaster resounded in Slovenia, triggering discussions on the possibility of a similar tragedy occurring in our country. This article highlights the differences between tailings dams and traditional zoned embankment dams in terms of basic design principles, construction and technical observation. It also emphasizes the importance of geological and geotechnical research, analyses and regular observation for the safety of tailings dams in operation and after closure. Special attention is paid to high mine waste piles, which are, strictly speaking, not considered tailings dams, although their collapse can have equally devastating effects.
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