Inverted Barriers in Tailings Storage Facilities: Lessons Learnt
Author: E. Zannoni1
Conference: 8th Asian Conference on Geosynthetics (GeoAsia8)
Date: June 11-13, 2025
1 Knight Piésold, Johannesburg, South Africa
ABSTRACT
Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) are increasingly regulated as waste containment systems, yet their barrier system is inherited from municipal solid waste (MSW) practices, which differ significantly in scale, waste behavior, and pore pressure regime. Inverted barrier systems have been successfully used in TSFs, where tailings contribute to the barrier function in conjunction with a geomembrane. Lessons from design, construction, and operations are discussed, emphasizing the importance of subgrade conditions, tailings uniformity, compaction, and drainage system. Key challenges include achieving consistent permeability, managing differential settlement, and ensuring long-term stability under high loads are discussed. Proper implementation, however, requires careful attention to shear behavior, drainage design, and early-stage deposition planning which shall be considered within a robust CQA plant.
Download the full paper.