Mining’s New Focus: Why Organizations are Increasing Investment in Tailings Management

The mining industry is undergoing a significant shift. With growing global demand for minerals and metals, especially those crucial for renewable energy technologies, comes a surge in mining activity and, consequently, a larger volume of mine waste, known as tailings. As much as 94% of mining organizations are increasing investment in tailings management. But what exactly are tailings, and why is their management becoming a focal point for mining companies and investors alike?

Understanding Tailings and Their Risks

Tailings are the byproducts of mining operations. After mined ore is crushed and processed to extract valuable minerals, the remaining material, a slurry of finely ground rock particles, water, and residual chemicals, is referred to as tailings. These tailings often contain harmful substances, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury, as well as toxic chemicals such as cyanide and petroleum byproducts.

Improperly managed tailings pose substantial environmental and safety risks:

Water Contamination: Tailings can leach heavy metals and toxic chemicals into nearby water bodies, disrupting aquatic life, contaminating drinking water sources, and posing severe health risks to humans and wildlife.
Soil Degradation: Contaminated soil can lead to phytotoxicity, where plants absorb harmful chemicals, resulting in stunted growth, reduced crop yields, and even plant death. This can render agricultural land infertile and pose long-term challenges for food production and ecosystem health.
Air Pollution: Dust generation from dry mine tailings is a major source of air pollution. This dust can contain harmful particulate matter and toxic substances that, when inhaled, can cause respiratory issues and other health problems for nearby communities.
Tailings Dam Failures: Catastrophic tailings dam failures can release millions of tons of toxic waste into the environment, causing immediate and long-term damage. The 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster in Brazil, which claimed 259 lives, serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of inadequate tailings management. Other notable tailings dam failures include the Mount Polley mine in Canada (2014) and the Samarco mine in Brazil (2015), which resulted in significant environmental damage and substantial cleanup costs.

Driving Forces Behind Increased Investment

Several factors are converging to drive increased investment in tailings management:

Environmental Protection: Mining operations are under increasing pressure to minimize their environmental footprint. Effective tailings management is essential to prevent the release of harmful substances into the environment and protect ecosystems, flora, fauna, and human health.
Regulatory Compliance: Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing stricter guidelines and standards for tailings management. The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), for example, aims for zero harm to people and the environment. Non-compliance can result in significant legal and financial repercussions, including fines, mine closures, and loss of operating licenses.
Community Relations: Mining companies are recognizing the importance of maintaining positive relationships with local communities. Proper tailings management is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of communities located near mining operations.
Investor Scrutiny: Investors are increasingly incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decisions. Mining companies with strong tailings management practices are more attractive to investors seeking environmentally responsible and sustainable operations. The Investor Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative, supported by investors holding trillions in assets, is actively pushing for improved tailings management practices and transparency in the mining industry.
Declining Ore Grades: As ore grades decline, mining operations must process larger volumes of material to extract the same amount of valuable minerals. This results in a corresponding increase in the volume of tailings generated, further emphasizing the need for effective management strategies. Over the past 40 years, ore grades have declined by half for many commodities, effectively doubling the volume of mine waste generated for each unit of valuable material produced.
Climate Change: Climate change considerations are increasingly being integrated into tailings management planning. Factors such as changing precipitation patterns and increased risk of extreme weather events can impact the stability and safety of tailings facilities.

Innovative Technologies and Management Strategies

The mining industry is embracing innovative technologies and management strategies to address the challenges of tailings management:

Tailings Dewatering: Technologies such as filtered tailings and hydraulic dewatered stacking (HDS) are used to remove water from tailings, reducing the volume of water in tailings, making them easier to manage, enhancing stability, increasing the amount of water returned to the plant for reuse, as well as decreasing the amount of water lost to evaporation and seepage. Filtered tailings solutions use high-rate or high-density thickeners followed by filters to recover water, resulting in higher water reclamation, a smaller tailings management facility footprint, and reduced closure costs.
Tailings Reprocessing: Recovering valuable minerals from tailings can enhance resource efficiency and generate additional income streams. Handheld XRF analyzers can identify and quantify residual metals within tailings, facilitating secondary recovery processes.
Commingling: Tailings can be combined with waste rock to improve both the geotechnical and geochemical behavior of the waste material.
In-Pit Tailings Disposal: Disposing of tailings in mined-out pits can reduce the environmental impact and improve the stability of the waste material.
Underground Backfilling: Mixing tailings with cement or a similar binding agent to create a solid material that can be used to support underground mine structures. This method enhances mine stability and reduces the exposure of harmful chemicals to air and water, minimizing the risk of acid mine drainage and other environmental issues.
Bioremediation: Using microorganisms and plants to break down toxic contaminants in tailings ponds. This natural process restores soil and water quality without relying on chemical treatments and accelerates ecosystem recovery.
Digital Monitoring: Advanced sensors, drones, satellite-based remote sensing, and other technologies are used to monitor tailings embankments, abutments, natural slopes, and water levels. Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) can give mine operators a higher level of security and more time to react when changes occur.

The Path Forward

The increasing investment in tailings management reflects a growing recognition of the importance of responsible and sustainable mining practices. By embracing innovative technologies, implementing robust management strategies, and prioritizing environmental protection and community safety, the mining industry can mitigate the risks associated with tailings and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Companies must prioritize the following:

Adopting the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and other international best practices.
Investing in research and development to identify and implement innovative tailings management solutions.
Engaging with local communities to address their concerns and ensure their safety and well-being.
Promoting transparency and accountability in tailings management practices.
Ensuring financial resources are available for the long-term monitoring and maintenance of tailings facilities.

Effective tailings management is not just an environmental imperative; it is also a business imperative. Mining companies that prioritize responsible tailings management will be better positioned to attract investors, maintain positive relationships with local communities, and secure their long-term future. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you develop and implement a comprehensive tailings management plan.