Research on closure and comprehensive management of a tailings pond

After nearly several decades of exploitation, China has formed approximately 19 000 tailings ponds. According to the survey data, about 90% of them are classified as grade four or five tailings ponds, most of which have the characteristics of small capacity and short service life. The relevant design specifications in China require that tailings ponds which are about to reach the designed elevation or have to be shut down for some reason closure design should be carried out. Therefore, the research on the closure of tailings ponds has great significance. This paper takes a wet-discharged tailings pond as an example and analyzes the main issues existing during the closure process of the tailings pond. This paper proposes reliable treatment measures to address these problems to ensures the safety and stability of the tailings pond after closure and provides references for closure design schemes of similar tailings ponds.