What Causes a Tailings Dam to Collapse?
Structural Weakness: Poor design, construction, and maintenance can undermine the structural integrity of the dam.
Extreme Weather: Climate change is making extreme weather events more common. Heavy rainfall can overload and weaken tailings dams.
Seismic Activity: Earthquakes can destabilise the foundation and walls of the dam.
Operational Issues: Overfilling and improper waste management can increase pressure on the dam.
Case Studies
Mount Polley, Canada (2014):Â The breach of the Mount Polley mine released 24 million cubic metres of mine waste into nearby lakes and rivers. The financial impact included over $67 million in clean-up costs and ongoing environmental monitoring expenses.
Samarco, Brazil (2015): The Fundao dam failed and released 60 million cubic meters of waste. This disaster killed 19 people and caused severe environmental damage. Experts estimate the clean-up and compensation costs at $5.1 billion.
Brumadinho Dam Disaster, Brazil (2019): The Brumadinho dam collapsed and released about 12 million cubic meters of toxic sludge. This disaster caused 270 deaths and serious environmental devastation. The economic repercussions included a $7 billion fine to the owner and long-term remediation costs.
InSAR for Tailings Dam Safety
Early Warning Systems: Detect subtle ground movements that indicate potential structural weaknesses before they become critical.
Continuous Monitoring: Supply real-time data on the dam's stability, enabling prompt intervention if you detect abnormalities.
Risk Assessment: Analyse historical data to understand long-term trends and potential risk factors associated with climate change. (Learn more about how InSAR works for tailings dam management in this article.)
You can read a case study of how InSAR could have predicted the collapse of the Jagersfontein Tailings Dam here.
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