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33
Seepage Control for Tailings Dams
by Earle J. Klohn, President,
Klohn Leonoff Consultants Ltd.,
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
1. INTRODUCTION
WATER
WATER STORAGE
ls', 62.4 p.c ! DAM
IMPERVIOUS FOUNDATION
FIGURE 2
TAILINGS DAM (
TAILINGS
1. General
90
'
I I
I
"'.:'
!\_
,I " \;'
'\
rf'.::--~'n:
I l\ I
\f o85 8ASE
! I 1' I !
'1: ''
''
-------rr
: '\ \ Ii\ ' II: ': 11
\'di~
'
015 F>5 0158 I \ i I I! !
~
.- \_ o~ 50 8ASE
6C
I \ \ \')O '\ I I
,
c - I \ 1
. ·-
;;:::
c
u ·-
I
I
I
I
050 FIITER f\
'- --- t- - -
2 ,_ __ r-\--'_,"i\
\ I
'
~
: \ \ \ I\ I
-- '
I \ I \ I \i
I \ \ \ I
3 I
I \ \ rt--i-- i;}I 1 I
I \i \t 015 FILTER 0158ASt. I I
I
I 0 15 FILTER \I \~ I I I'\
I ! I I I I I I f\ I ! \Ii ~
I I I 1I1: !'{. I nl,}J; ! \j
'~~m IC 111 I 1' '\.I ' \
GRAIN SIZE - mm
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6
SEEPAGE CONTROL FOR TAILINGS DAMS 683
FLOW NET FOR HOMOGENEOUS DAM - WITH BLANKET DRAIN
FIGURE 7
Figure 7 presents the flow net for the same sand dam with
a downstream blanket drain added. The blanket drain is much
more effective than the toe drain in lowering the phreatic line
and draining the downstream portion of the sand dam. Figure
8 presents a variation of the blanket drain whereby a strip
drain, running parallel to the axis of the dam, is installed at
about the centreline of the dam. Finger drains connect the
strip drain to a toe drain at the downstream toe of the dam.
For the assumed conditions { kh = k ) the strip drain is ex-
tremely effective and the downstreaXi half of the dam is dry.
Another type of extremely effective drain that is often used
in homogeneous dam sections is the inclined or chimney drain.
Figure 9 presents the flow net for this case. Finger drains
connect the inclined drain to the toe of the dam.
Drains should be very conservatively designed to ensure
that their capacities are adequate to handle the maximum
probable seepage flows and still maintain the I ine of seep-
age with in the drain zone. For estimating the seepage
flows that will be intercepted by the drain, the highest
probable permeability should be used for the surrounding
soil and the computations carried out based on flow nets.
PHREATIC LINE
Kh"9K.,
FIGURE 8
684 TAILINGS & WASTE DISPOSAL-SEEPAGE, CONTAMINATION, REGULATIONS, & CONTROL
-~------ ~--·
1-IGURE 9
where k =Jk mm
. x kmax = effective coefficient
of permeability
The higher the ratio of horizontal permeability to vertical
permeability the higher the phreatic line and the larger the
zone of saturation in the dam. The effects of increasing
the ratio of kh from 1 to 9 is illustrated by the heavy dashed
kv
line on Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. It should be noted that the
small toe drain shown on Figure 6 was inadequate for the
case of kh /kv. = 9 and consequently the phreatic line emerges
on the downstream face of the dam.
IMPERVIOUS FOUNDATION
PERVIOUS SOIL
f-------t----~-+----+--120
0
'Q- -
llj
it
60--~-->-----+---->r---+----l~ ~
~ ;
~40>-----+---~-+-----+---'c-----ifi{]
UJ
2:
5 20
UJ
0:
100
0 20 ~ 60 BO 100
PERCENT OF DEPTH PENETRATED
FIGURE 12
h=200ft
I INDICATES
GROUT
f'D:,j
CURTAIN
--
1-- \ -0.67h
Qc< 37%(o,l
FIGURE 13
SEEPAGE CONTROL FOR TAILINGS DAMS 691
Cl>
is
~ y WATER SURFACE
SEEPAGE= 0 1
r
z
Gl
EXIT GRADIENT= i 1
Cf)
IMPERVIOUS "'--------HYDRAULIC GRADIENT
Q<>
DAM
~
~
m
g "1 =3
Cf)
-u "• = 22
0
~
r
I
Cf)
m (a) NO UPSTREAM BLANKET
m
-u
}>
Gl
_m
(")
0 y ----==HYDRAULIC GRADIENT
z
~
-------------Z
s:
z B = 3h - - IMPERVIOUS ih
~ ! 1· UPSTREAM IMPERVIOUS BLANKET I DA~ -
0
z ...
N
:IJ
m n1 =3
Gl
cr "• = 36
~ 111111111111111111111111111111 IV<
0z SEEPAGE=Q = 61%0 1
2
Sil EXIT GRADIENT=i 2= 61 % i 1
(b) UPSTREAM BLANKET OF LENGTH 3h
""'0
(")
1. General
q = k i A
3. Seepage Problems
Water related problems probably cause the greatest con-
cern, during the life of a tailings dam. The most serious
problem of this type is the possibility of overtopping. This,
of course, cannot be allowed to happen as it likely would
result in failure of the tailings dam with subsequent loss of
tailings and water. Consequently, if such a threat develops,
it must be corrected by raising the dam and/or reducing the
inflow of tailings and runoff into the pond. In the extreme
case, where neither of these measures can be carried out in
time to stop overtopping, an emergency spillway is required.
Although emergency spillage must be considered a last re-
sort, particularly where discharge from the tailings pond is
considered to be a pollutant, it is a far better alternative
than overtopping the dam and causing a large and sudden
uncontrolled discharge of tailings and effluent.
• J
... ....
- ~
.. t·
,,__ i ~
. .. ,, ,,,,,.,,
~
·. . .......
,,,,,.,_,,- -- ,; ...... ::::::-r- ---
FIGURE 15 -PIPING AT DOWNSTREAM FACE OF SAND
TAILINGS DYKE.
::tf -. _ '-.
/,; "<"
tL.Z><7 --··-'\
~<:::::::::: ..
- '
\
0"-- ~/
---~-
,,,."'
'?.-;."
/-FILTER
_.c:... ___7;..,
ROCK
EL 238()
FILL
.........
.,PRESENT DAM
''-...,,
DAM
"-----------
EL_:~~-..L_ _ _ _ _ _L"'~~12_E~~A~--- _ _
S BEACH
400' TO POND
-0
:t> ---- I OLD POND LEVEL
G) - - - - / O L D PIPING 'c' / _,.PIEZOMETER LINE
m - FAILURE
POND(Pb. 1970) y
0
0
z
-I
:0
0 ~..::T--~- -"T
1
·,:iv.,i:i\v-- ;u,1;21>~-' -........._~9aliY°cmhec
.,r y- hn;x\;;zq!t~ K.,=1'f?cm1sec
n,=3
"•=15
0
:0
~
r
z ___,100
G) FEET
(f)
"""
0
en
The original design called for the placement of protective
filters on the upstream face of the rock fill dam. Cycloned
sand was to be placed over the filters and a spigotted beach
was to be developed beyond the cycloned sand zone. The
intent was to operate the pond in such a manner that a
generous beach would be maintained at all times between the
free water surface and the face of the dam.
SECTION B-B
N T.S.
--- ----
f-------....... I DIC'7f'\U~C'D I C'\/C'I ...............
~--SPIGOTTED BEACH--· -----l
-------------
"t=3
"'; 10
--
5D
Cf)
rn
Kti =Kv =6x 10-· cm/sec
rn
-0 Kh -·
=9x IO em/sec 0 0
~ Kv =1r/ cm/sec
rn
NDERDRAIN
0
0
z
-I SECTION A-A 0 100
:0 FEET
0 GIBRALTAR DAM-MAXIMUM SECTION AT STATION 36+00 SHOWING
r
Cl
:0
MEASURED PIEZOMETRIC ·LINE AND ESTIMATED FLOW NET FIGURE 19
~
r
zGJ
Cf)
~
s:
Cf)
.....
0
co
measured seepage, with no contributions from construction
water to be concerned about. In this case the average
measured seepage is a value which compares reasonably
well with the computed value.
A~
PLAN VIEW- BRENDA TAILINGS DAM FIGURE 20
--~~~---
------ ------~ULTIMATE
--------
DAM
4500
----,
PRESENT DAM (19771 I-
SPIGOTTED BEACH w
w
------- ------------
IL
44001 4:
0
CYCLONED SAND
~
w
Kna Kv: 16zcm/W<.: -'
w
------------
1
.L
_____ i _ _ _
SECTION B-B
BRENDA DAM - SECTION AT STATION 38+00
SHOWING MEASURED PIEZOMETRIC LINE AND ESTIMATED FLOW NET FIGURE 21
4600
Cf)
m
m
~ POND
---
"'---_
- __
-- -- ------------------- -ULTIMATE
------------
DAM
----<-----------
--- ,.. """
_-PRESENT
4500
SPIGOTTED BEACH 1-
(j) J'
l:J
---- ---- ----
m 44001
IL
(")
0 - CYCLONED SAND ~
I
z K11~9•10- cm/•,er
1
t-
-I 43001 ;1'
::0 1<.,' 1C? ~m/.,.,c _, w
-'
0 K11 =Kv=IO cm/-.ee UJ
r
"Tl STARTER DAM
0 k•O 1
[P~ER OUALIT'I' , Lov.t:R PERMEABILITY
4200
::0
IN THIS ZONE)
~
r IMPERVIOUS FOUNDATION
z
(j)
4100
Cf)
~
A./
STREAM /
" \ (
DIVERSIONS\ ~ /-DIVERSKJN
/DIKES
·~·------., \c'.\ \ )
"" .., ..., ·. :i \( BEAR LAKE
'I
v-
0..J I
) ~KE
·~
\
\ 1~·/
_j_.
\
D I mile
Score - Miles
LEGEND
[J 0
11111111111 SILT
1200 .,
1100 ,.:;:::::.
1000
0 1000'
L___J
Scal1-Ft1t
900
~
r
z
(j)
(J)
11"
~
(J)
-I
m
0
(i5
-u SELECT COMA<ICTEO
0 COARSE TAILINGS
(J)
)>
r COARSE TAILINGS COMPACTED
I
(J) ULTIMATE
WITH SPREADING EQUIPMENT
m 40'
m
-u
)>
(j) 40'
F1
JT1
0
EL.1170' Fl COMPACTED COARSE
TAILINGS
6
0 Jr:::::;:::;: _EL.1140'
z
';! STARTER DAM HORIZONTAL DRAIN HORIZONTAL FILTER
:;;::: SANO a GRAVEL
z GROUND SURFACE AFTER FOUNDATION PREPARATION
~ 0 100'
0 '------'
_z Scale - FeeT
:0
m
(j)
c
r
~ TYPICAL SECTION THROUGH DAM NO. I - RESERVE MINING
0 FIGURE 25
z
_UJ
11"
0
0
z
-I
:0
0
r
to handle a maximum probable storm and still maintain a safe
freeboard. Water reclaim is by floating, pump barge, having
a maximum capacity of 10, 000 gallons per minute.
):!
r=
z
G)
(/)
Qo
~
~ IMPERVIOUS CORE
~
rn 1100 Kh8Kv;lcJ6 PIEZOMETERS
1100
0
en
-u
0 T /
/
/-
~~
-=--.._---ULTIMATE DAM EL.1080
I ...._
CONCLUSIONS
The data presented in this paper has been drawn from many
sources, a major source being our clients, to whom we ex-
tend our thanks for use of the data developed on their pro-
jects. The writer also wishes to acknowledge the assistance
given him to several members of his staff who helped gather
the data presented in this paper. In this regard, special
acknowledgement is extended to Robert C. Y. Lo who carried
out the analyses required for drawing up the several flow
nets, and to Eric D. Pharey who prepared all the figures.
LIST OF REFERENCES