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Modern tailings storage facilities (TSFs) operate in environments where ground conditions are variable, water pressures shift, and construction stages evolve over time. In such dynamic settings, relying solely on pre-construction assumptions is not enough. This is where the Observational Method becomes one of the most powerful tools in tailings dam engineering, enabling engineers to adapt, respond, and refine designs based on actual field behaviour rather than theoretical pre

In the mining and infrastructure sectors, tailings facility safety is no longer judged only by construction quality or operational control, it is now deeply tied to how well a structure can perform during seismic events. Even in regions considered low to moderate seismic zones, the effects of vibration, ground shaking, and liquefaction can pose serious risks to tailings dams, their foundations, and the surrounding environment. Building seismic resilience begins long before co

As global climate patterns shift, the design and performance expectations for dams and tailings facilities are being redefined. What once were considered “safe design standards” are now being tested by unprecedented rainfall, prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, and changing hydrological cycles. For engineers, the challenge is no longer just building for strength, it is building for resilience.   1. Understanding the New Climate Reality Across Africa and the world, climat

In the mining industry, the safe management of tailings is one of the most critical aspects of environmental and operational performance. The design of a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) determines not only its structural integrity, but also its long-term stability, environmental footprint, and overall risk profile. Choosing the right TSF design approach Upstream, Downstream, or Centreline requires balancing geotechnical, hydrological, environmental, and operational factors un