Earthquake Induced Liquefaction Potential of Paste Tailings: Shaking Table Results

Abstract

Highly densified tailings, such as paste tailings, are a novel technology of tailings (soils produced by mining activities) disposal and management. Paste tailings are generated from the significant dewatering of the slurry tailings produced in the mine processing plant. This technology provides numerous benefits to the mines, such as reduction of the dependency on conventional tailings dams with their associated risks (disastrous geotechnical and environmental failures) and the increase in water recovery and recycling. However, regulators are worried about liquefaction potential of paste tailings deposits in regions that are prone to earthquakes. Up to date, no investigations have been conducted to evaluate the liquefaction potential of paste tailings using a shaking table. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to evaluate the liquefaction potential of paste tailings under seismic loading conditions using one-dimensional shaking table equipment. The paste tailings were deposited in thin layers and were subjected to the atmospheric desiccation process in order to gain strength before performing the shaking table tests. The paste tailings deposit was subjected to a sinusoidal dynamic loading with a frequency of 1 Hz and peak horizontal acceleration of 0.13 g. The variation of pore-water pressure within paste tailings deposit was monitored during the shaking test. The test results showed that the paste tailings can be susceptible to liquefaction under the considered testing conditions.