MinE 650

Geotechnical Aspects of Mine Tailings

Description

This graduate-level course examines the geotechnical behaviour, design and management of mine tailings facilities throughout their life cycle, from site characterization and technology selection to operation, closure and post-closure. Emphasis is placed on Alberta oil sands and Canadian hard-rock mining, supported by case studies from elsewhere in North America, Australia and other mining jurisdictions.
Topics include tailings and foundation characterization; solids and water balances; settling, dewatering and large-strain consolidation; critical state interpretation of strength and liquefaction susceptibility; seepage; static and seismic stability analysis; and analytical and numerical modelling. The course integrates these technical topics with risk assessment, monitoring, dam safety governance, regulatory requirements and closure planning. Particular attention is given to cold-climate conditions, uncertainty, environmental performance, Indigenous rights and affected communities.
Through engineering calculations, interpretation of laboratory and field data, modelling exercises and critical review of research and industry case studies, students develop evidence-based recommendations for safe and responsible tailings management.

Learning Outcomes

- Characterize tailings and foundation materials using laboratory, field and processing data, and explain how mineralogy, fabric, pore-water chemistry and deposition influence the engineering behaviour of different tailings types.
- Quantify solids and water balances, settling and consolidation to estimate storage capacity, water recovery, settlement and dewatering time, applying large-strain self-weight consolidation theory where appropriate and evaluating the limitations of simplified methods.
- Evaluate tailings management alternatives and justify the selection of dewatering technologies, deposition methods and facility concepts using site conditions, production requirements, climate, safety, environmental and social impacts, and life-cycle costs.
- Interpret laboratory and in situ test data to select defensible geotechnical parameters and assess drained and undrained strength, strain-softening, and static and cyclic liquefaction susceptibility within appropriate soil mechanics and critical state frameworks.
- Analyze seepage, stability and deformation under static and seismic conditions using appropriate analytical and numerical methods, including assessment of liquefaction triggering and post-liquefaction behaviour; verify model results and evaluate sensitivity, uncertainty and limitations.
- Develop risk-informed design criteria, monitoring and response plans that connect credible failure mechanisms to applicable regulatory requirements, dam safety responsibilities, construction quality, instrumentation, performance thresholds and emergency preparedness, distinguishing legal obligations from technical guidance.
- Develop and justify closure and post-closure concepts addressing soft-tailings capping, settlement, landform stability, erosion, water management and geochemical constraints, with consideration of cold-climate processes, climate change and long-term monitoring and maintenance.
- Critically evaluate research, failure investigations and professional reports to develop and defend engineering recommendations, individually and collaboratively, communicating evidence, assumptions and uncertainty while demonstrating ethical judgement, accountability for public safety, and consideration of Indigenous rights, knowledge and affected communities.

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Sections & Respective Instructors

B1 - 2026/2027 - Winter - Mohammadali Sepehri