Given today´s economic, environmental, and regulatory circumstances, mining companies must pay particular attention when confronting one of the most important issues related to their productive operations: tailings management.   The necessary requirements for the tailings disposal, the technologies used to streamline water recovery and recycling in processing, and the complexity of designs needed in order to ensure stability of the retaining walls are just some of the aspects to consider within this type of management.

Mining companies are addressing this topic, both in the design phase of projects as well as during the operation and closing phases of deposits or tailings dams as long-term effects on the environment and safety also must be considered.

Likewise, the ore grades of deposits have been decreasing, pressuring mining companies to develop expansion projects not only in the pursuit to increase the economic value of their companies, but also to maintain current production levels.  With this, the amount of tailings will continue to increase, which implies the need to improve the understanding of the risks associated with tailings management and its inclusion in the design process.