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The Development and Demonstration of a Semi-Automated Regional Hazard Mapping Tool for Tailings Storage Facility Failures

Author

Listed:
  • Sally Innis

    (Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Negar Ghahramani

    (Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Nahyan Rana

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON W2L 3G1, Canada)

  • Scott McDougall

    (Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Stephen G. Evans

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON W2L 3G1, Canada)

  • W. Andy Take

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Nadja C. Kunz

    (Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
    School of Public Policy & Global Affairs, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

Abstract

Tailings flows resulting from tailings storage facility (TSF) failures can pose major risks to downstream populations, infrastructure and ecosystems, as evidenced by the 2019 Feijão disaster in Brazil. The development of predictive relationships between tailings flow volume and inundation area is a crucial step in risk assessment by enabling the delineation of hazard zones downstream of a TSF site. This study presents a first-order methodology to investigate downstream areas with the potential of being impacted by tailings flows by recalibrating LAHARZ, a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based computer program originally developed for the inundation area mapping of lahars. The updated model, LAHARZ-T, uses empirical equations to predict inundated valley planimetric and cross-sectional areas as a function of the tailings flow volume. A demonstration of a regional application of the LAHARZ-T model is completed for 46 TSFs across Canada. Although the variability in tailings properties and site characteristics cannot be perfectly incorporated or modelled, the LAHARZ-T model offers an efficient method for high-level, regional scale inundation mapping of several potential TSF failure scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Sally Innis & Negar Ghahramani & Nahyan Rana & Scott McDougall & Stephen G. Evans & W. Andy Take & Nadja C. Kunz, 2022. "The Development and Demonstration of a Semi-Automated Regional Hazard Mapping Tool for Tailings Storage Facility Failures," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:82-:d:924867
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schoenberger, Erica, 2016. "Environmentally sustainable mining: The case of tailings storage facilities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 119-128.
    2. Armstrong, Margaret & Petter, Renato & Petter, Carlos, 2019. "Why have so many tailings dams failed in recent years?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
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