Case History: Application Of Geosynthetics in A Tailings Storage Facility Rockfill Buttress Construction Project

Case History: Application Of Geosynthetics in A Tailings Storage Facility Rockfill Buttress Construction Project

Authors: M. K. Mthethwa11
Conference: GIGSA Workshop and GCYP
Date: July 4-5, 2024

1 Knight Piésold, Sandton, South Africa

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to present the application of geosynthetics in the buttressing of a gold tailings dam in 2022 in an undisclosed location in Free State, South Africa. Several geosynthetic materials were involved in the project such as geogrids, non-woven geotextiles, HDPE drainage pipes, and a geo-composite drainage. Drainage of the saturated in-situ clay was achieved using sub-soil drains consisting of a slotted HDPE pipe wrapped in non-woven geotextile for filtering function. Biaxial geogrid reinforcement was used to protect the subsoil drain from crushing under the weight of the overburden rockfill. Non-woven geotextile and geocomposite drain were used as a separator and filter material between the tailings and rockfill. The application of geosynthetics in this project was successful as the products proved functional post-construction based on available monitoring data.

 

Download the full paper.

Download

Perspectivas recientes

Septiembre 2025
Laying Groundwork for Future Mining: Infrastructure Support by Knight Piésold
Septiembre 2025
Lessons Learned in the Interpretation of SCPT on a Tailings Facility Using the CSSM Framework
Septiembre 2025
Challenges of Tailings Transport Pumping Systems in Negative Static Head Applications
Septiembre 2025
Hydraulic Evaluation of Tailings Transport Systems in Mountainous Terrain: Density Wave Analysis
Septiembre 2025
The Role of Rheology Tests in the Design and Operation of Long-Distance Slurry Transport Systems
Agosto 2025
Safe Dams, Straight Talk: The Knight Piésold Difference
Julio 2025
Knight Piésold Zambia: Building a Future of Engineering Brilliance and Local Empowerment
Julio 2025
Water Engineering for Modern Mining: Bridging Mining with Sustainability
Junio 2025
The Essence of Material Compatibility in Advanced Barrier Systems of Existing TSFs
Junio 2025
Inverted Barriers in Tailings Storage Facilities: Lessons Learnt
Junio 2025
Prioritizing the Mitigation of Legacy Geomechanical Mine Hazards Using a Risk-Based Approach
Mayo 2025
Knight Piésold: Sustainable Projects in DRC Through Baseline Studies
Abril 2025
Advancements in Geotechnical Investigations for the Characterisation of Upstream Tailings Dams in SA
Noviembre 2024
Knight Piésold: Commitment to African Excellence
Noviembre 2024
Design of a Co-disposal Facility for Thickened Tailings and Potentially Acid-generating Waste Rock
Noviembre 2024
Compaction Sensitivity in Tailings Stack Infiltration Modeling: Unsaturated Properties Uncertainty Analysis
Noviembre 2024
Volumes of Dam Material Mobilized by Erosion During Tailings Dam Failure Events
Octubre 2024
Estudio de rotura de una presa de jales en la zona centro-norte de México
Septiembre 2024
Grouting to Reduce Seepage at Neckartal Dam, Namibia
Septiembre 2024
Influence of Pre-Existing Mobilized Zones on B3 Cave Propagation and Initial Subsidence at the New Afton Mine