Mine waste embankments need same engineering attention as earthfill dam

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976 · Coal Age; (United States)

OSTI ID:7275157

Singh, M M

Coal tailings dams and waste piles are the garbage of coal production, but their volumes make them major structures. Without adequate engineering design, they are like bombs waiting to be exploded. Mine waste embankments may fail for several reasons: weak foundations, very steep slopes or excessive heights, high piezometric water levels, overtopping of the pond water, and piping of fine materials by seepage. Essentially the same engineering principles that are used in earth dam design also apply to mine waste embankments. Yet the adaptation of these techniques is often severely hampered and even modified by the peculiar constraints of waste piles, such as economics, material properties, site availability and lack of instrumentation. The construction techniques employed also necessitate that the water flowlines and potential boundaries be treated differently.

• OSTI ID: 7275157
• Journal Information: Coal Age; (United States), Vol. 81:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DAMS
DESIGN
INSPECTION
STABILITY
SPOIL BANKS
CLAYS
COAL MINES
EARTHQUAKES
ECONOMICS
ENGINEERING
LEAKS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERAL WASTES
MONITORING
SAFETY
SHALES
SOILS
WEATHERING
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MINERALS
MINES
ROCKS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SOLID WASTES
WASTES
010800* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Waste Management
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
510100 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)