Spatial and Temporal Study of Supernatant Process Water Pond in Tailings Storage Facilities: Use of Remote Sensing Techniques for Preventing Mine Tailings Dam Failures

Carlos Cacciuttolo () and Deyvis Cano
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Carlos Cacciuttolo: Civil Works and Geology Department, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile
Deyvis Cano: Programa Académico de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad de Huánuco, Huánuco 10001, Peru

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-32

Abstract: Considering the global impact on society due to tailings storage facilities (TSFs) accidents, this article describes a study to monitor mine tailings management and prevent mining tailings dam failures, considering the analysis of different TSFs real cases. The spatial and temporal dynamic behavior of the supernatant process water pond of the TSFs is studied as a critical issue, using remote sensing techniques based on multispectral satellite imagery. To understand the current state of the art, a brief description of engineering studies for the control and management of the supernatant process water pond in TSFs is presented. This research considers the main method of the study of practical cases with the use of techniques of multispectral interpretation of satellite images from the Sentinel 2 remote sensor. In addition, the management of tools such as Geographical Information System (GIS) and Google Earth Engine (GEE) is implemented, as well as the application of some spectral indices such as NDWI and the joint use of (i) NDVI, (ii) mNDWI, and (iii) EVI. Real TSF cases are analyzed, including the dam failures of Jagersfontain TSF in South Africa and Williamson TSF in Tanzania. Finally, this article concludes that the size, location, and temporal variability of the supernatant process water pond within a TSF has a direct impact on safety and the possible potential risk of the physical instability of tailings dams.

Keywords: tailings storage facility; remote sensing techniques; multispectral satellite imagery; Google Earth Engine; NDWI; NDVI; mNDWI; EVI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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