May 19, 2020

Tailing Pond Failures Increase

Tailing Pond Failures Increase

May 19, 2020

Predictably, as many mining operations age, the number of tailing pond failures has increased significantly. The causes of these failures fairly evenly distributed: Seepage (21.6%); Overtopping (20.6%) Foundation Failure (17.3%); Earthquake (17.0%) and Other (23.5%). In addition, due to the recent pandemic economic downturn, it is expected that the number of abandoned mines and tailings ponds will increase dramatically. Ecovap’s enhanced evaporation technology allows these tailing ponds to occupy a small fraction of their normal land footprint and a dramatic reduction in risk of failure. For mining operations that are scheduled to be shut-down, ECOVAP’s ability to rapidly dewater the pond at >59x the normal evaporation rate facilitates a permanent remediation solution the remaining 1-5% of slurry and dried toxins can be dry-bagged and/or sent to an appropriate disposal site.

Review Article, A Comprehensive Review on Reasons for Tailings Dam Failures Based on Case History: Click

Latest News

New Technology Allows Tailing Storage Facility Risk to Be Monitored from Space
December 2024
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is collaborating with Value.Space to deploy satellite-based monitoring and risk profiling to lower the risk profile of tailings storage facilities (TSF).
Economics of De Risking World Tailings Storage Facilities at US$0.01/MT
December 2024
Derisking the world's 12,000 tailing storage facilities (“TSF’s) against potential failures would cost an estimated US$22bn, a small cost compared to an estimated US$688bn in potential liabilities.
EcoVAP Highlighted as Innovator for Sustainable Permian Produced Water Management
September 2024
EcoVAP was honored to have its pilot Evaporation Matrix with midstream company Deep Blue presented in the article: “EcoVAP - Aerospace Engineering Meets Produced Water Near Midland Airport" (pages 68-69) in the most recent edition of North America Outlook magazine.
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
WASHINGTON POST
MARCH 2021
Army Corps denies permit for massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska