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Transitioning from Upstream Raising to Downstream Raising on Two TSFs at the Tarkwa Open-pit Mine in Ghana

Tailings and Mine Waste Conference (2023 : Vancouver, B.C.); University of British Columbia. Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering

Tailings management is multifaceted in its goal of zero harm to people and the environment, in line with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). Gold Fields is committed to conforming with the GISTM and achieving its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) priorities, one of which is reducing the number of active upstream-raised TSFs in its portfolio from five to three by 2030. Upstream construction relies on the integrity of the tailings for stability. As such, while this construction method has been successfully used for decades, these designs require greater ongoing scrutiny. The downstream construction method does not rely on the stability of the tailings, and therefore can be more versatile during operation. This paper presents the approach adopted to convert or transition two upstream raised tailings storage facilities using the downstream/centerline raising technique. The ultimate aim in the transition journey at this site is to form safe and stable facilities, not relying on the in-situ tailings strength and phreatic surface regimes and moving away from the risk associated with static liquefaction in a high rainfall environment. The transition steps, ultimate geometry, waste demand, design and construction challenges are discussed.

Text

2023-12-08

Attribution-NonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/86807

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/