Guidelines for Mine Waste Dump and Stockpile Design

Guidelines for Mine Waste Dump and Stockpile Design is a comprehensive, practical guide to the investigation, design, operation and monitoring of mine waste dumps, dragline spoils and major stockpiles associated with large open pit mines. These facilities are some of the largest man-made structures on Earth, and while most have performed very well, there are cases where instabilities have occurred with severe consequences, including loss of life and extensive environmental and economic damage.

Developed and written by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience, this book is an initiative of the Large Open Pit (LOP) Project. It comprises 16 chapters that follow the life cycle of a mine waste dump, dragline spoil or stockpile from site selection to closure and reclamation. It describes the investigation and design process, introduces a comprehensive stability rating and hazard classification system, provides guidance on acceptability criteria, and sets out the key elements of stability and runout analysis. Chapters on site and material characterisation, surface water and groundwater characterisation and management, risk assessment, operations and monitoring, management of ARD, emerging technologies and closure are included. A chapter is also dedicated to the analysis and design of dragline spoils.

Guidelines for Mine Waste Dump and Stockpile Design summarises the current state of practice and provides insight and guidance to mine operators, geotechnical engineers, mining engineers, hydrogeologists, geologists and other individuals that are responsible at the mine site level for ensuring the stability and performance of these structures.

1. Introduction
2. Basic Design Considerations
3. Waste Dump and Stockpile Stability Rating and Hazard Classification System
4. Site Characterisation
5. Material Characterisation
6. Surface Water and Groundwater Characterisation
7. Diversions and Rock Drains
8. Stability Analysis
9. Runout Analysis
10. Risk Assessment
11. Operation
12. Instrumentation and Monitoring
13. Dragline Spoils
14. Management of Acid Rock Drainage
15. Emerging Technologies
16. Closure and Reclamation
17. Appendices
18. References

Mark Hawley is the President and CEO of the Piteau Associates Group of Companies. He obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1979 and a Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983. He has been involved in engineering geology, rock mechanics, geotechnical and hydrogeological studies for more than 35 years, and has consulted on more than 65 major mining projects worldwide. He specializes in the investigation and design of high open pit slopes and waste rock dumps.

John Cunning is a Principal and Geotechnical Engineer with Golder Associates in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He has a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering (1991) and a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering (1994) from the University of Alberta. He has been involved in geotechnical engineering studies supporting tailings and mine waste management projects for more than 25 years. He specializes in investigation, design, operation and closure of tailings facilities, water management facilities and waste rocks dumps.