Babii K., Hovorukha O., Kuantay A. Results of the dam state monitoring and substantiation of causes of the tailings pond area deformation

Details
Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2024
Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2024, Issue 170

Geoteh. meh. 2024, 170, 119-132

 

RESULTS OF THE DAM STATE MONITORING AND SUBSTANTIATION OF CAUSES OF THE TAILINGS POND AREA DEFORMATION

1Babii K., 1Hovorukha O., 2Kuantay A.

1M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

2Satbayev University

UDC 624.01/.07:627.8

Language: English

Abstract. The paper is aimed at the analysis of the results of geological engineering surveys of an active tailings pond to identify the dangerous dam areas and to define the reasons of deformation process progress within the dam to develop measures concerning geomechanical stability of the structure.

The paper involves both practices and monitoring results of an active tailings pond where concentration plant slurry is accumulated. The research subject is a dam of tailings pond Kryvi Luky belonging to Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing PlantPJSC.

The international experience of accidents within the dams of tailings ponds was analyzed as well as all possible causes of the emergencies. It was proved that potentially dangerous processes and occurrences take place inside the mass. The necessity to monitor geomechanical stability of the hydraulic structure was substantiated.

The monitoring took several stages, which made it possible to trace through dynamics of the processes. Primary well drilling helped identify areas of the tailings pond dam where deformation processes take place; namely, zones of homogeneous pile clays; a zone of technogenic laminar filtering; and a zone of heterogeneous structure of the dam. Four years after, new inspection wells were drilled within the areas. Treatment of cores showed significant enlargement of sandy rock lenses differing in plastic consistency, which influences deformation processes in the dam. To identify the reasons of the geomechanically heterogeneous unstable zone, mining, hydrogeological, and engineering-geological conditions of the structure use were studied. It was defined that the problem dam area is located along a ravine; historically, land plot under the structure experienced flooding for many years; and geological framework of mass being the tailings pond basis was not prepared for the hydraulic structure building. To improve efficiency of further monitoring, it was proposed to set monumental benchmarks within the dam areas right in the zone where the layer of sandy rocks differing in plastic consistency becomes thicker.

The obtained results can be used for the development of measures to prevent emergency situations at tailings storage facilities, as well as to improve the efficiency of monitoring hydraulic structures.

Keywords: hydraulic structure, technical condition monitoring, geomechanical stability, deformations, tailings pond.

 

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About the authors:

Babii Kateryna, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, (D.Sc.), Head of Department of Geomechanical Basis of Open-Pit Technology, Deputy Director for Research of M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ORCID 0000-0002-0733-2732

Hovorukha Oleh, Postgraduate Student, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  ORCID 0009-0001-8574-8717

Kuantay Aidana, Doctoral Student, Mining Department, Satbayev University, Аlmaty, Kazakhstan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0001-5703-8227