The effective management and closure of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are critical components of modern mining operations, particularly in light of evolving regulatory frameworks and heightened environmental scrutiny. Numerical modelling of TSF water flow has emerged as a powerful tool to support decision-making throughout the lifecycle of a TSF, from initial design to post-closure management.
This presentation will explore the practical applications of numerical modelling in addressing key challenges associated with tailings facilities. Using both 2D and 3D modelling approaches, it will demonstrate how these tools can be employed to inform the evaluation and optimisation of drain designs, provide modelled pore pressure data for input to slope stability assessments, predict post-closure drain-down behaviour, and assess interactions with surrounding groundwater systems. The presentation will touch on inflows from upgradient groundwater, seepage to downgradient aquifers, and the potential development of groundwater contaminant plumes. It will also include discussion of some innovative approaches to the modelling of surface-groundwater processes on the surface of the tailings.
Key aspects of the modelling process, including the development of conceptual models, parameterisation using field data (e.g. unsaturated zone testing, TSF cone penetration tests, local groundwater hydraulic testing), and calibration to observed conditions, will be discussed. Examples will highlight how numerical modelling can provide valuable insights into mass balance considerations, inform regulatory compliance strategies, and support sustainable closure planning.
This presentation will provide a short overview of how numerical modelling can be integrated into tailings management practices, offering insights that support informed decision-making, thereby helping to address regulatory requirements and practical challenges in mine closure and waste management.