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BRIEF SUMMARY
Module 1 of the diploma in Geotechnical Design of Tailings Dams, Waste Dumps, and Leaching Pads aims to review various fundamental concepts for the subsequent analysis and geotechnical design of these structures. For example, the relationship each of these structures has with the mining production cycle and their importance within the social, environmental, and economic framework. Likewise, concepts and theories of soil behavior regarding stress, deformation, strength, and coupled flow will be reviewed (e.g., critical state soil mechanics, stress-dilatancy theory in sandy soils, influence of anisotropy on the undrained strength of clayey soils) along with modern approaches to laboratory and field testing for adequate geotechnical characterization. Using this theoretical framework, historical cases of tailings dam failures such as those that occurred at Mount Polley (2014), Fundão (2015), and Feijão I (2019) will be studied. Finally, the most recent international regulations and guidelines for the design of mining waste structures, such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), the technical bulletin of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), and the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), will be reviewed to understand how geotechnical knowledge adds value within the broader framework of management and governance that allows for the safe construction, operation, and closure of tailings dams, waste dumps, and leaching pads.
BENEFITS
► Receive certification in the name of the International Geotechnical Center as a specialist in Tailings Dams, Waste Dumps, and Leach Pads Design.
► Get trained by an experienced speaker in the field.
► Receive slides and materials for each module.
► Be able to make necessary academic inquiries through the CGI Virtual Campus forums.
► Choose the start date and complete the diploma at your own pace and schedule within the access period. You can pause and review the videos as many times as needed to grasp the knowledge being imparted.
► Access a network of professionals from various countries worldwide. Our diploma program includes technicians, university students, engineers, master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral candidates, as well as individuals from various professional backgrounds.
► Access the database of participant inquiries and responses, as well as technical reports generated in each module and supporting theses.
OBJECTIVES
► Identify the need for mining waste deposits in the context of both small and large-scale mining.
► Study soil behavior in terms of stress, deformation, strength, and flow, with reference to critical state soil mechanics.
► Understand the significance of stress and dilatancy mechanisms in sandy soils.
► Evaluate undrained strength in clayey soils, considering critical factors such as anisotropy of shear mode, deformation rate, and sensitivity.
► Explore various laboratory tests available in both industry and research contexts, such as axisymmetric triaxial tests (UU, ICU, ICD, KoCU, KoCD), and cyclic tests. Additionally, investigate research-level tests like hollow cylinder torsional shear tests and scale model centrifuge tests to characterize stress, deformation, strength, and flow behavior.
SYLLABUS
► Module 1: Introduction and General Topics
a. Mining Production Cycle
i. Tailings Deposits
ii. Waste Dumps
iii. Leach Pads
iv. Other associated mining structures (stockpiles, DMOs, haul roads)
b. Historical Cases of Mining Structure Failures
i. Failures of tailings dams during the Chilean earthquake (1985)
ii. Mount Polley Tailings Storage Facility
iii. Fundao Tailings Dam (San Marco)
iv. Cadia Tailings Dam
v. Feijao I Tailings Dam (Brumadinho)
c. Geotechnical Exploration
i. Purpose and Scope
ii. Exploration Methods
iii. Geotechnical Exploration Program
d. Laboratory Tests
i. Standard Tests
ii. Triaxial Tests CU, CD, UU
iii. Large-Scale Shear Tests
iv. Long-Deformation Cyclic Tests
v. Small-Deformation Cyclic Tests
vi. Tests under Partially Saturated Conditions
vii. Special Tests for Tailings
e. Material Strength, Deformation, and Permeability
i. Soil Behavior under Shear
ii. Drained Shear Strength
iii. Undrained Shear Strength
iv. Failure Criteria
v. Soil Compressibility and Consolidation Theory
vi. Estimation of Deformation Properties
vii. Hydraulic Conductivity Evaluation
f. Instrumentation and Monitoring
i. Piezometer Design
ii. Functioning of Benchmarks, Inclinometers, and Settlement Cells
iii. Radar, Lidar, and Drone Technology
iv. Data Recording and Interpretation
v. Alert Levels
vi. Case Study
g. Management, Design, Operation, and Governance Standards
i. New Global Tailings Management Standard (GISTM)
ii. ANCOLD Guide 2019
iii. ICOLD Guide 2020 (under review)
Centro Geotécnico Internacional - CGI
CGI PERÚ: ✆Fijo:(511) 485-1540 / 642-9705, Móvil-Whatsapp (51) 941 621 841
CGI CHILE: ✆ Fijo:(56) 232109658
CGI MEXICO: ✆ Fijo:(52) 5541708066
CGI ARGENTINA: ✆ Fijo:(54) 1152188717
CGI USA: ✆ Fijo:(1) 3473445811
✉ information@centrogeotecnico.com
- Teacher: Guillermo RODRIGUEZ CAYLLAHUA
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