The safe and economical storage of tailings generated by modern-day mining operations is possibly the single largest challenge faced by miners today. By nature, tailings are a waste product that have little to no economic value. Yet, their physical and chemical contents can pose incredible environmental hazards if not stored correctly. The variety of factors that are met when designing tailing storage facilities (TSFs) means that in most cases, a low-cost solution is sought to accomplish storage, meet environmental regulations and adhere to industry best practices.
