COMMITTEE ON MINE AND INDUSTRIAL TAILINGS DAMs

COMITE DES BARRAGES DE STRILES MINIERS ET INDUSTRIE

(1 989- 1995)

CONTENTS

SOMMAIRE
-

---

MESSAGE I>'iN'TRODlJ('TION
DU I'ROC3IIAMME
IIES NA'TIONS 1JNIl+,S
POlJK 1IENVIRONNEMl;NT

F. htIGUEZ DE MELLO
C.B. ARADJIBV

INTROIIIJCTOKY MESSAC16
PliOM THE UNI'I'ED NAI'LONS
ENVIIIONMKNTAI,
PROGRAM ME

E.J. KLOHN

G . NOGUERA
1 J U Zhejuii (3)

TECI1NIQUES DE MISE
EN D I ? P ~ T
DES S T K I I ~ E S

2.

TAILINGS UISPOSAI, SYSTEM

C O N T R ~ I ~DES
E TRAVAUX E T
LX 1'1,OlTATJ 0 N

4.

CONSTIIUCTION CONTKOI,
AN D OPERATION

MESURES CORRECTIVES

5.

REMEDIAL WORKS

6.

RRHABILITATION
AND CLOSURE

7.

KBGULATIONS

K.

REFERENCES

J.-h.1. DIII'AS
J . URAUNS

F. CAPOZZA (4)
C;. KUGGERI ( 5 )
Soutli AfricalAfiiquc d u Sud

J.R. WlLLIAMSON

SwedenISuede

J. EURENlIJS

~~~~/fitats-~iiis

E.S. SMITH (6)

S.G. VICK (7)

(1) Meiiihei- iiiitil 1993lMeitilirc jiisqu'cri 1993.

(2) Meiuhcr since 1903/Mernbre dcpciis 1993.

(3) Mciiibcr sincc IO9:i/Me1nbrc dcpuis 1993.
(4) Mcinbcr. uiitil I993lMciiihre jusq~i'cii1993.
( 5 ) Member since 1993lMemhre tlepuis 1993.
(6) Meirihcr until 199 IlMeitibre jiisqu'eii 199 1.
(7) Mcnibcr since 199 l/Meinbre depuis 1991.

5.

ANNEXES

APP1;NDICES

PROCiRAMME
DES NATIONS UNlES
POUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT /
CENTKE INDUS'TRIE
b T ENVIRONNEMENT HISTORlQUE

AROUT UNEP INDUSTRY

AN D ENVlRONMEN'17
CENTRE

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b

MESSAGE D'INTRODUCTION DU PNU

-

--

INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE FROM UNEP

__--

--

p
.
-

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liili-odiicf ion

Au.jourd'liui, uii I i i i ~ i li~i\~enli

de ~>rotcctionde I'eiiviro1incnient est ex.
socibts niinikrcs d:iiis lcurs activitcs. l ' r a d i t i o ~ ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ c~l 'lei exr~iitI, l ides
e l l pro
cii\~iroiincinciitaux21 port priiicil>oIeiiiciit siir Ie cycc dc p i - ~ c I ~ i c c'est
ti~~~,
les pliases de rccoiinaissance et d'cxploitatioii d'un gisemclil, ~~i~ aLljo
on est plus conscicnt des inipacts des opi-atioiis aniiexes, el 1'011 denl;illde
en plus q ~ ccllcs-ci
~ c
soit gres wvec les ineines soins clue la production,

~
i coirlllanics
~
al-e
~ 1 1 0 expected
i~
~ to acliieic
~
a higli cnviroiiinciilal pcrfo1.:lnce i n tlieir olleratioils, '~raditioi1:illy tlie grealest erivironlnciiia~s~rutiilyhas
( h e production cycle S tlic iiiinc, thai is exploi-atioii aiid cxploiiatioii ~f
r,
,(,dy, ~ ~ ,allcillai.y
d ~ ~opcrations
~ ,
are also seen to Iiave a Iiigh eiiviroiii~lri~t~l
act, alid iiicreasingly are heillg required to be inanaged witli thc skiine care
productioii side.

Les harrages cc les relenues de strilcs foiit partie de ces activits

phi-iq~lesa~lxqiicllesiinc priorit tres marcluc n'a pas t o ~ j o ~t
]-~
acto
Ccpciidaiic, un ccrtaiii iioinbre d'iiicidcnts rcents ont coiiliriii que ces ouvl
avaicnt parfois uii iiilpact tres lourd siir le plaii de I'eiivironnelnent et de la sk
16, 2 le1 point quc la gestion des striles coiisiit~ieiiiaintenant uii des ,-ritere
Juhclliellt de I'efficacit des socits miiiieres eii inatikre de protectioll de 17envi.
1-oniienieiit.

~ ~ ~dalns
i alid
l tailings
i ~ iinpoiindments
~ ~ ~
are part of this 'l>criplicl'al3activi(y
hat has not always rcccived a lligli priority iii tlic past. A llumbei- of rece111 ilicieilts llave lievertheless recolifii-inedtliat tlic environiiientiil ~iiidsafcly iinp:ict []-o111
quite sevcrc. So inuch so th~itL:iiliiigs iiiailageiiicill S ilow
ch structures
of
tlie
criteria
by which compaiiies' environmeiital performarlcc is
colniilg
judged.

1,:~ bonnc gestioii des strilcs (coiiiiiie dc tout aL1tl-e dclict inillier) n'cst
clil'ficile, iiioyeiliiaii~uiic tecliiiolvgie adaptc el une surveillance adquate
centre, si I'orgaiiisatioii de cctte gesiion ii'in(ei-viellt qu'iiprks coup, ou
tr
coiific accessoiienieiit 2 uii persoiiiiel de chanticr peu exprinlellt. on risq
se lrouver confi-oiit a uiic situation daiigereuse pour les .
populatiolls
ct l-eii
.
rieriient.

~ ; ~ (tailings
,d
irianagelnent, as in<]ccJis thc case Sor al1 aspccts of miiic \vaste
managenicnl, is llot difficult to achievc iS soiind techiiologies ~indsatisfacto1.y
as a
Ilervisioii is used. Converscly, tailings manageinent as an aftertilought,
rt-tirneaetivi~yby inexperienced site personiiel, can result in siiuations tliat may
danger human lives and lhc cnvir0nnicnt.

Dc plus en plus, les orgaiiisnies chargs de la protestion de I1cnvironn

~ l e v e n les
t diffrents impacts des barrages de striles. EIeureuserllcrit, les acc
rnortels soni rai-es. Mais on ne peut se conteritei- de cctte siluation. ~e~ mines
leurs retenues de striles) devieniient plus importantes et produiselil frquelllm
des iiiatiercs daiigcreuscs (effluents toxiques,. , .). pour celles implantes e
d'acces difficile et A relief accident, le choix dc l'emplacenlclit du barrage de
riles es[ tres lilnit avec, pour rsultat, la ralisatiori dlouvragcs plus

Prsentatiori des prol~l&iiies

principalix

Various ecoloFical impacts of tailings iiiipoundinents are beirig illcieii~ingly

arkcd upon by envirollmenlal agencies. Serious accideiits that result i i i IOSS of
fortuna(cly less [requent. There is no rooi~iPor coinplacency, howevci-.
es, and tlicir tailings impoundments, are becoming higger, aiid frequelitly
lve toxic cffluents aiid other potentially hazardous matcrials. Whcre mines are
ociltcd iii remote areas with difficult terraiiz. optioris Sor tailiiigs dams may be
constrailled, which can result in iriorc vulrierablc structures being buili.

Overview of the key issues

Plusie~lrscas rceiits de rupture dc barrages de striles ont eci des impa

srieux sur les lnilieux terrestre et aquatique, avec parfois perte de vies Iluinai
Ces ruptures surviennerit sur ~ O L Llescontinents,
S
et memc dans les socits do
de grai~dsinoyeiis Iiurilains el iiiatricls. I,a divulgation de ccs vnements con
lc puhlic b pcnser que ces ouvrages sont dangereux.

~~~~~thilures of tailings impoundments have led to serious iinpacts upon terrestrial and aquatic environnients, and occasionally4e loss of life. Majar failures
ave becn reported in al[ coritincrits, including at sites run by companies wit1-i collsierable professiona] and material resources. Thc publicity surroundinji these events
a public view thai such structures are inhereritly urlsafe.
as sometilues led

Actiicllernent, des iiicidents, certes rlioiiis dram;itiques, lnais ~ 1 ~ nombre

1s
soiit conllus. Les socits d'exploitatioii son1 inaintenant alnenes 3 i-duire
imllacts. tels que 1cs percolalions dniis le sol, I'vacuation des eff]uents, la pro
ti011 1 ~ ' ~ s s i k r ects les iiuisances pour la friiine sauvage. es rcsponsablcs de 1
dc et de I'cxploitatioil des mines soril corifronts 5 un nouveau dfi, celui de su
~ e i l l e r e de
t illaitl-iser dc tels impacts. Par ailleurs, dans ccrtains cas, Ics stri]es sont
siiripleinent rel2chs daiis I'environiiement, saiis \e proccupcr de leur stockage.

Less dranlatic bu[ more widespread iiicidcnis are now also hcing idcntified.
roulldwiter seepage, discharge of efflueiits. dust gcileration and interfel-cllce
witli wi[dlife are conlmon ilnpacts tliat companies are ilow expected to mitigaic.
ollitoring and nlanaging such esfects places new challenges On mine (lesigners
operators. of course there are also situalions where tailings are still heing
discharged into tlle environmenl witliout any allC1npt at rclention whats~evcr.

Selon une dfini~innpliis litrga ilu rislue, tenaiit compte des y r o ~ l ~ m i s

ronneinentaux, on P ~ I noter
J ~ que les i-ctenues cic
d e striles prsenlent it
d'autres impacts nuisibles. On peui citer-:
* la retellue risque de pnrtri- aiteirile aux biotopes

vant h proximit,

tux c o s y s i ~ m c sse tr

les IAchures3ProFratnmeS Ou accidentelles, ri.;iluellt de pulluer les

suriace,

en
de lgchure d ' e a u r d e draiiiage acides, la pollution des
rsiilte peut durei- tres longlcmps,

qiii

les inriliraiions d'efflueiics (cyanurc, l i i i e ~ radio;ictjfs)

~[~
dans l a fondati
d e I'ouvrage risquelii d e polluer les nappes pllratiques,
les iilfiltrations peuveni provoquer une loonte loca\ise de la nappe, ce
lis a la salinii des sois des zoiles 5 prosjinjlk
a
coles, hiotopes),

ose des problemcs

a ~ r i sscliage, les siriies, trilnsf'ormCs en poussi&ses,risql~ellt & e t r e

1'"' des \'ents fOi-1s vers les Iiabitations ou cosystelnes iip r o x i i n i t ~ .
i'ilisa*ce qui en d s u l l e , ces poussieres peurenl contenir des niatieres toxiques pr
venant des striles,
dans le cas
certaines mines d'or, les emuclits slucks par le barr;ige peugnrer des gaz toxiqiles (cyariure, ...) capables d'empoisonner les ojseau
aliirs Par le plaii d'eau dans les rgions semi-aridcs,
la faune risque d'etre pikge ou noye d;iiis cei.tains ouvrages ailnexes
coiiCUs
Protgs (puils de controle, chenaux de inesure,

Wiih hro;idei colii-sp~inilof ellvironriiciit;il iisk ill;it iiicludcs ecoloficzil

that tailings p o u n i e n s also c;iIise oilici <luiriagiii.?
vslues, wc can
impacts. Tlicse iiiclude:
"O,hc inlPoilndlllen~may dai1isgc 0,. de,qiroy locilly v;ilual)le Ilahit:its
sysieins
effluent, whcther Planned 01-iiriplaiiried, frolll a i i i m ~ o u i i d i n e n l
release
lnay colitai~iinaiesurface Water;
whcre general,uii alid ,.,=leasi. of aii<i iiiiiii driiiii;igc (AMD) ('cciirs. ille
water pollii[i(>ne f k c t s tuay be quite l()llg-lastiiif;
seei,age of effluent throiigh tlie hase o[ ihc ~1rUcLUie1il;I); c()ntllliiii:itc
groundwa[er wit[l cyanide, or radioaciiue ~oilipoilell~sl
seei,age mny resull in substalliial i n o ~ ~ n d i i0s
i g lile ii;itiil~l1gi-Oulidwuici '"'lc
I"OvOkc soil s;ilinity pi.ohlems in iie.iihy ;igi-icultuial l a i d 01- iialural habitats;

dried tailings may be swept as dust by strong wiiids into ileigtlhouriil Ilahilations or ecosysieiils, 1. additiOn to bcing ? i i u i ~ a i l ~tlle
c . dusi iiiay coilLaiii"lic
compoilents frorn ihe cdiliiigs;

emilelii i n

taiiillgs iinl,oiindments a( soine g0ld tiliiles gcneritc loxic gascs

;itir;icte.d by uiiei iii d1.y i c ~ i o i i s ;
sucl, as Cy;in;dc tllat IiIay poison

l,uorly desigiled and protected ancill;iry struciiii-es suc11a s n l o n i t o r i v t)()l.cs,

flulnes elc. illay 11-apni- drown wildlife;

les mndificatiolis 3pl>orii:cs a u psysage par les grandes reteliues de

soill parfois inacceptahles d l n s les zones d3in1erEiscieniifique ou di grallde
t naturelle.

I
landscapP Changes by maji)or tailings impoundinrriis IiiaY be unaccepishle
as of sc,el,tific or'scenic significance.

ill

Ail.ioiird'hiii. les fechiii(~ucsd16valuoiioil ikludes d~iiilpaets,CludeS

lisqiles) Pci-lnc(icli[ d'avoir I J I I ~estiiiliilioll assez lIr6cisC de la PUssibilil
ilnPaccs liour Llil sitc donii. [,es risqucs ayant t identifis, les solutiolls
i.e~llcdcsdeslins 3 rduirc les illlpacis 13cuvcnl c~~~ di^^,
I ' a ~ ~ l i c a t i odlei ceS solulions. l'ingCiiieils doit iioll scujemcnl
nornles lcliie1lcineni
vjguciir, inais ;iussi songer 5
e
cO1lLraiii~rs
d'~~lvironl1eiiient.
aiiisi qiic les crigciiccs leeli,liqucs. i;volucl,t
l"lciii "" POUt s"Pl>oscl (1C ICS ~ i c r f o r ~ i i ~ ~deiii;lndes
i~ces
A uil ouL,i.age,ac
lrlent t.11 c l l a i l ~ ~ dcvie~idroni
l-,
plus siriclcs
lii f i n de la \,ic
de cel
lJn
~ ~ ~ b l e l l lics
' c s h lil gestioii des stfi-ile\ esi Celui du lessivage en l a
"'gil
techilique dc plus cii ~ l i i s1-l>aiiduequi, si elle csl bien con
coillpOrle Pas de dan&er pour I'environi~emeni; mais il
n ~ n i i l r i o i nIin
s
non "gligeable el, cas d'oprations insl lnailrjscs
l,rot~g6esEn
lessivage, le ras dtvieili un ai1i;is de dicliets comlne ,lil auim, don( la ,.khahilit
I'i-liminiitiull doii i i r c tudiie, r&lis& ct sul-veille, eoinllie pour lout outre
d e stockage dcs slrilcs,
inci.

Conlment rpondre aux probI&nlesposs ?

Li'rs de l'riiide de la gcstioii des retcniie~d i
de sler,les, il
de v"ir les clloses 5 long termc, cal- soiivelii ccs uuvrigcs cx~sleiuiilion
pliis l o n ~ t e n l que
~ s la mine elle-mime, v<iire que la socir ,j.exl,loitolion,
I1
de sai'oi1: cjc fagon clairc, qiii seis ~-espollssblede ~~eilrlzi,eilde
r ~ a r a t i o nde la retcnue d e stockage.
sir, in prii1cipe. aucuiie ~ p d r ; i ~ i odi i' e ~ ~ ~ ~ e ~ de
i e il. l~ p a r a ~ i n i i
liCcessairc De par sa ~oncclitioii,~ ' o i i v r odo(
~ ~ ;iie stablc, i.ubiisre
ris(lue, capah1e cie resister iux iniein,iries et :iiix iiutrei coildiiions locales, Plu
quc de conceuoir ouvi-age 2 i i e lii~lilke;il s'agit diulIinapci le paysage de fiiG
I'eilTi"ilentc
Par cunlse. i l faiil u11 dispositif d'auscul~stione, ~ ~ i i i P p e c t j o i i af,ii
confiriner que cc biii cst rbcllcmeIit a,tc,n,,

I c eoili-t icrnie. 011 doit concivoir c t exl>loiter des ouvrager rpoildant

les eontraintes d'cilvil-uiinenieni ct d e s c u r i ~ cites c,-dessus,
sai,on
Iaire cela raisoi1n:iblenieiii bien : IC defi ~ ~ ~j s-iissilrer
~ s ique~les tprcautio
~
priscs lors du prqiet soicnt nlaiiitcniirs cii piiasis
con,~il-uclion
r i d.cxploitaiio
'OUtes

environ~iieiitilinipi~ci;issessliiclit (ElA)
i~sscssmeniicc~lliiques suel,
Cail now gvc
a rrasoiiably z ~ o dcstiinatc o' tIic p o s s i h i l i i ~ofsiich
~ i i c ideniificd.
r
siskhaseJ desien soliitions
I,act ocLU,.,.ing iii a I,aflicular
can
he
utilizcd
lo
avnid
or
iiiiiiinii./e
(he i l i i ~ ~ l ~ ~ ~ .
reliiedial

,t assessiiieni

soliilioiis desiglle,-sliecd to 1>1"11 f0'111" fulu1-e ;is wcl1

111al,lllyiiiS
,,pli2ince
uilI Currellt st~illdlri~.;,
~ ~ ttlief e~ivisoiiiiic~it;~~
l
;igeiid;i ~ilidtecliiiica1
cli'ilindar(is are evolviilg l.a,,idly per{oiniailcc c ~ ~ i c c t i i t i oCal1
i i ~ be
(he lifitillic

()f

irlany struclurcs being built t('day.

Oiic eilicrging iSsue that i s ls]aled 10t;ilings i i i a n a g e ~ ~1sl ~that

~ i ~of heal> learhis practice is t,ccoaiiiig more widespread, and ; > l i h o ~ >~ ~ h~ engineeicd
1 1
roceSSes can be eilviroilmelit~llysafe, thcrc. is substantiil risk from pnoi-ly
aged ul. I,rotecled O p e r a ~ i O i i s ~t he end of the leacl~inil era^^^^^- tlle Iiclip
nlusi hc plaiined9cxccuted
eC,>lnrsailotlier disl,os;ll/reh;ibilitation opcration
(1 inonitored, like any oihcr tailings sitc.

sliould \*e respoiid to tlie issucs?

dcsigliing alid nlalisgillg tniliiips iml>ouiidoi~iii~.
it ir c s ~ l l t that
~ ~w
l e lske "
iiiillounc~nicli<striiciurcs uill be iherc for l(lll& time,
for i n many cases
ucll loilger thaii ihc l,c
niinc, nnd longer e\leli tllln
life of
coiilpiiily.

view i,leans being cle;ii- about wlio has responsihility for

lliain-

rnailltenance 2nd repaii sliiiuld be ],ceded T h i s mea'is

,deally of course
igning a sirL,ciure tllii is i l l t r i l i s i c ~ ~ stable,
ly
self-rc~airin%2'
iaisk-fiee.'lid
wcsiller
anJ
other
loc;il
i
i
i
f
l
i
i
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l
l
c
~
The
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confirin Ihai 'Iiis
iiloniior,ng and ve,iific:<iion I > r a c e d u r ~is iiecded
has truly been achieved.
respond
we have to de,sign and operate structures
I n thc short
''lis 'eae in,medhle cnvironiiiental and safety issue,s above. We know Iiow
nahly well; ,he cliallenge is to see that t h i dcsign principlcs are c;irried Over
liably into the collsli-uction and opcrational phases.

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ilir les bolles e t d e Permettre aux striles de se deposer, ce qui rend possibles 1
cllation
la rcu[)r;ition (recyclage) dc I'eau des huues, ainsi qlic le stoc
permanent (011 dp6t a scc) e t la restauration ventuelle di1 dpC>(,
.;tkriles
ven[ galemeilt eLie iliis 'eii dp6l sur le sol aprks liliiiliatioll de I
, ( ~
i.xeniplr. sil 11loy(:ii de pi-csscs fiIti.airiehj, oii liar voj(: Iiyclrilliliquc d:ins
o~ivi;igc'scliii iic i.<.:iiciiiic:iit(lii'uii l;]ib!c \ , ~ l t]'clli,
u ~ ~ ~ ~
La concepiion des bariagcs ct des dkli6ts de striles ;i &(esoiivciit ci,ipiri
le~ii-coitlpI-leiileiit a 616 [~arfoispcu satisl.aisa~i1.L.(: l)i,( firl;il <le tout d p ~ t
stki-ilcs cst que celui-ci iie n6cessitc aucunc intervelitioil I , O L I ~ assiirer sa stabi
et qu'il puisse 2tre rhahilitk pour uiie misc cii \,aleur ultkl.icure des
et
c(iiiverture v ~ t a l e .11 faut se rappeler cet objeclif 2 tooles les tapes du proje
penclant la lunguc priodc de construction.
Les b:irruges dc striles el les harrnges a retenue d'cau ont uii certain no
de cliracti'isliques cornmunes, iriais prsenteiit tlcs d i f l ~ r e l l c e squaiii a leu
Lali~n,aux lecliiiiques d e coiistriiction e l a ~ l xciractristiques des inatr
harragcs el des striles stocks. En particuliei. :
les harragcs de slriles s o r i ~conqus pour etre aban&)iinSs snns autre expl
ta~.ion;
leur conslruction a gEnralement licu en iiieine ieiiil>s que leui- exploitatio
le plus souvent. ils ne retienrient pas ci'cau si c e i i . e s ~5 des tins de s
lnentation, de rcul?ration e t de traitement par broyage ;

e n gnral, la retenue d'eau ne rsulte que du inode opratoire visan( 5

lnise en dphl de rsidus solides ; toutefois, dails quelques schCmas a en ,-irc
fermk ou aucune vacuation d'eau a I'aval n'esl permisc poiir des raisons en
ronnemenlales, un certain stockage d'eau peut etre ncessaire,

cnabling discharge o r reciamation (recyciing) of Ll-ie slurry

relention (or dry disposal) and eventu:il restoration 0s the tai~~~~i~~~~
may llm be disposed to land in duiiips afler dewalerinl: (e& by fil;.essing) or. as hydraiilic f i l l in structures which do not impoiin(i significanf

to settle,

,- and perinm"c"t
~

Uolli tUiliiigstl:lnis iild tailiilgs diiiril9$ Iiavc ol'tcii hceii desigiicd I)y (:1ilI'ii-ic"ll
ns und (lleir per~.orliience1121s somctirncs bccn less Llian satisfacLory. Thc 11lti
uny ~ ~ ~dispos;il
i l sclielrie
i ~ is
~ Lhai
~ tiie
~ taiiings ~ ' i i l l s:ifely he IcfL iil 21
aiiri
ilion tli2il will require no mainteiiancc to ensurc tl-ieir s~abilityancl thus are
tc, a suitable subsequeiil lalid use aiid vcget:itioii cover. 'l'liis filial ObjccLislagcs of dcsigii aiid ~tiroughouttlic prlongecI
Lo be borne ili lniilci
rrailings dains I
~ a iiul~il)er
; ~ ~of fcatures
~
iii comiiioii wit1-i watci. recenlioii
but lheir operliioiial iieeds are d i f f e r c n ~iis
, are iiiany o f (he coiisci.ucli()li
niques aii,j iniitei-ia~clliii-aclc~js~ics
o i ihc dams tlicrnselves iirld tlic tlilirigs
ined bchind [he darus. Iri parlicular:
Lailingsd:inis ;ire (iesigned LO be abaiidonccl aiid no1 o~ei.a(cd;

.
. construc-ion

Lif;ualIysiinultaiieous wiih their operatioii;

elo no, usually ilnpoiiiid water lbr pui-poses otlier ihin sedinielilatio~l,
inalion a ~ i dmil1 operation; and
in general, water yetell~ionis only iiicidental 10 their operalion for thc ultipui.l)oSc of solid wislc <lisposlil, although in somc 'closetl circuil' sclleflles,
e no discliarge of water downstreain is permitted for environmcntal reasons,
e water storage iiiay be required.

))

1.6. IMPOKTANCE DES STRILES ET DES BARRA(;ES DE STRILE

Les striles constitucnl l'un des malriaux de construction de barrages 1
plus ahondants dans le monde. L e voluinc oii lc toliliagc de rCsidus miniers ira
chaque anne daiis le nioiide dpasse celui d e toute a ~ i t r einduslric.
L'chelle du problkrne d e la mise en (Ikpht des striles peul facilemcnt ~t
a partir de quelques donnes. En 1986, 1;i productioli inondiale de charb
Clail valuee a 4 545 000 000 tonnes, cellc de
de fer 5 916 000 O
tollnes, et celle de milierais de cuivrel de ploinb et d c zinc 5 ] 8 500 000 torl,,
(tel'cur en mlal). Depuis 1940, I'introduction d e iriachines d'cxtr.aclion en con
ni1 dans I'induslrie miiiiere, aitisi qiie ['cxploitation de tilons iniiices de chnrb
associs a di1 sclliste argileux iu 5 du @&S,ont concribuc 2 2ilignienter l a quant
des rsidus miniers apports e11 surface e t oiit ncessit l'implant;itian de statio
de lavage du charboii sur lc site de la ininc. Au cours d e 121 lneine priode,
nombre d e centrales thcrmiques au cliarbon a augment ct il y a eu un besoin no
lne de sites d e stockage Pour les rsidus de lavage du charbon et les cendr
volantes. D a ~ l sI'iridustrie niinikre d e mtaux iioll f2rreux, 011 [jeut rnain
cx1'loiter conoilliquernen~des niinerais moins riches qulauparavant (par exe

HOW EXTENSIVE ARE TAILINGS ANL) 'L'AlLINGS DAMS?

tiic iiiost abundanl d;iiri-building inaterials i r 1 [he world.
Tailings are onc
voluine ()r tollnage of niiiic. wastes Iiandled throiiglioiil thc world clcll YcLii
eds lhat of any otlicr iliduslry in the world, including non-mine constructioii.
~h~ sctile of the tailings disposal problem can rcadily be envisaged f r o ~ lai few
Illes, I~ 1 9 ~ ( , ,world produciion of coa1 was estiinated al 4 345 000 000
es, lhat of iron ore at 916 ()[)O 000 tonnes, and of copper, k i d m i zinc
00 000 tonnes (metal colitciit). Sincc th2 late 1 9 4 0 ~conliriuoils
,
nlining machihas been introduced in [he coa1 inining industry and the m i n i l i ~of Lhin layers
sandstonc partings has increnscd the lotal ainount of WasLe
oal with slialc
ht lo 1tie surface alid [las introduced thc need for coa1 washing plants
I>ui.iiig the saiiie pei-iod, coa1 fired power gencration has incrcased alid
e neetj fCJri i n p o ~ l l l ~ ~foc
~l~
disl~osal
~ i t s of coa1 washcry tlilin&sand pul\'eriscd
astl has grown ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ln ~non-feri-ous
d o u s l nieta]
y .
inining, thc q i l a l i t ~oE
ore whicll can be ecoilomically exlracted has generally heen lowered consily, e,g. froiil 3-4% copper in [he 1900s to 0.2-0.3s Lody, witli a coi-responincrease i n ltie amouiit of waste prodiicetl. J i is likely that ovcrall mine waste

Ilour le miiierai d e cuivre. Leneur en ilitnl d e 3 4 B dans les

1900,
9h a u ~ ~ ) ~ r d ' l l 1c1ei qUi
, conduit ~ i i i eatigrneniation d e la < ~ i i ~ ~ de
t i trsid

probable q ~ ' ~ c t u e l l e i i i e t ila1 11rodiiction glohale d e striles rninierS quiv

peu
a la ~ r ~ d u c t i o t l ~ l o c aniiiiiere
le
de chrirboli e ( de inincrais iildustrie
'[oit de~'sser5 000 000 000 toiiilcs par : i n . [irir seiile i:xploil;i,ion iliinierc
~"('(iiiil'~~
llluh
1%) O00 toiirits p;it I O I I I . . 1 .;i i i , i : , c b c.11 < ~ < irl(5s
~ ~ :,l,:rilcs
c,
est
uiic iiclivitC coi-isid.i.;it,lc.

res

produclion, inclilding tailiilgs. is about equivalent to the total mine* production of

coal and industrial lninerals and allnost certaiiily exceeds 5 000 000 OoO ton''eS per
ollemining operation can produce in excess of 150 000 tons/day Tailings
disposal is, therefore, a inassive Operaii~n.

be I;l~-ge;iiid sigiiific;~iitciigiiicering woiks, soiilc of wliic'i

hiilinps daliis
Les bari-ages dc st6riles peuveiit 81ic des ouvi.;1gcs de Eralides dimcns
anioligst ihe world*s nia.jor daiiis. The "Worl~iRegister o f mine and iniiustria'
cntraTilalit d'iinpoi-tants ti-:ivci~rx d'ingkiiici-ic ; ccriaiiis ~ i g L i i - ~ l lllarni,
t
les
tailings uaiiis2lists 8 liiliiigs dains ~iiglicrthcin 150 in. 22 highcl thiii 100 li1 iiii'
hriilds harrages du inoiide. 1,e Registre Mondial des Rarl.agcs de striles Mi
15 higher thaii 50 ln. In a,i<iitioii, 6 ilnpoundments have a siirfiicc arca greater
Ilidustriels receiise 8 barragc:~d e sti-ilcs de plus
krn2 alid a sroi;ige vl)lul~ie cxceeding 5 0 1 o6
~ m'. Ullfoflullaiely (lii
I ~ in
O de I ~ ~ ~22~de~ ~ ~ ~ , than
. , 1~10
kiiown.
l ( J O in ct 115 d e pliis d e 50 111. 11 fiiiil y ajoiiier 6 retenues de s l o c ~ a g edo
World ~~~i~~~~is far f r o m coiiiplcie nnd iIie t ~ - u scale
e
of operi~tions1s
sui-bce a plus d e 100 ki~i'el cioti~le voiumc cip~issc5 0 llrlI3.Malhcureuseinen
Registre
loir1 ci'2ii.e coinplec e( Iii siiiintioll rcllc ii'cst pcis connue.

,,,

1.7. CONTENU DU (;UIDE:

cllapitrc 1 coiisiiili:iiit Line in(roduction, le guide c o m p r e l i ~les

l'ilcss silivani~: ckiipiiii?2 : i e e l i ~ i i q i <le
, ~ ~mise en (ibpi>t des striles ; cllapii
coi'ccptioi1 des harrapci; iic stkriics ; cllal,itie 4 : coiitr6lc dcc CravauK
el exp
ti011 ; cllapitrc S : incsures coricclivcs v e l i ~ L l e ~ ;l cchapi,ie
s
6 : ,.khahilitation
feriilcturc ; clial>itie 7 : :ispects ic'gleliieiitail-es (ell(l-e aLitrcs, exeinplc
Royauine-Uni).
12
'

~ ~ l lal) ~illtsoduction
) ~ i ((1
~ (ailiiigs
~
c1ispos:il systeins in Chl~lter2, Ihapter
dcLils w j t l i decjgli of' tnilirigs d a i m cind Chapler 4 with coiistruclioli c('nlrol aii(l
operat,on chal>[er 5 deals witli reinedial works wliich may be necessary ;lnd
rcllabili[alioii aiid ciosiirc. r:in;illy. Cflapier 7 ex:iliiines ixgiilii-'
chaplcr 6 luoks
tory ;ispecin of i;iilings dislios;il, iisiiig lile e x a i i i p l ~of thc Uniled Kingdoin jtl particular.