A discussion on the design standard of tailings dam in China

Referring to the mainstream academic viewpoint that "one of the main reasons why tailings dams in China are of frequent accidents and tough safety production situation is the low safety design standard", the authors analyze and investigate a great quantity of domestic and foreign data and thus find out the current stability design standard of tailings dam in China is equal to that in America. Without adequate demonstration, the allowable value of stability safety factor of tailings dam specified in current standard shall not be raised or reduced arbitrarily. Its overall level shall remain basically the experience level of history in current standard. Appropriate adjustment shall be made for only individual unreasonable situations.