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Dynamically Representing Tailings Pool Geometry - GoldSim Webinar Presentation

Author(s): 
Dave Hoekstra
Date: 
Thursday, June 22, 2017
First presented: 
GoldSim Webinar 6/22/17
Type: 
Presentation
Category: 
Water Management
 
When developing a water balance of the pool on top of conventional tailings storage facilities, simulating the geometry of the pool can be a particularly difficult task given the highly dynamic nature of the pool shape.  Typically, the slurry deposition of fine ground mine tailings will form a shallow bowl with slopes of a few percent, which not only rises at a rate of meters per year, but changes shape and size as it expands to fill the impoundment area.  The water balance should track the area of the pool, elevation, depth and volume, which necessitates developing a stage vs. area vs. volume relationship that can be applied over the entire life of the facility.
 
This webinar will explore some of the techniques used to dynamically simulate this geometry, and how to implement them in GoldSim.
 
 

Feature Author

David Hoekstra

David is a civil engineer with over 28 years of experience in mining, environmental, solid waste, and geotechnical projects. He specializes in mine water management, including designing surface water conveyance and stormwater structures as well as capture and storage facilities for surface water and solution flows.

David’s experience includes conducting a third-party review of an OPSIM water balance model, evaluating the development of Australian Water Balance Method input parameters, and performing a completeness review of an existing site-wide water balance model.  He has also developed a site-wide process and environmental water balance model for the feasibility study of a large gold mine. This model incorporated an open pit, heap leach pad, waste dumps, and water supply and control reservoirs. The model predicted the water demands for the process as well as the quantity and quality of off-site discharge along regional drainage routes using daily, probabilistic climate forecasts.

Mine Water Management Specialist
PE, BSc
SRK Denver
SRK Kazakhstan