Predictive Modeling of Mining Tailings Run-Out Distance with Comsol Multiphysics
Mining tailings are the waste materials left over after the valuable components of ore have been extracted during the mining process. These tailings typically consist of finely ground rock particles, water, and processing chemicals. In Chile, there are more than 750 tailings deposits, some active and others abandoned. Mining tailings can pose environmental risks if not properly managed, as they may contain toxic substances such as heavy metals and sulfides that can leach into the surrounding soil and water sources. A tailings dam break refers to the catastrophic failure of a dam used to store mining waste. When a tailings dam breaks, it can release a large volume of slurry containing water, toxic chemicals, and solid materials downstream. These events can cause devastating environmental damage, including contamination of water sources, destruction of ecosystems, and posing risks to human health and livelihoods.
In this research, we have analyzed the run-out distance of tailings once the deposit has collapsed based on numerical simulations in COMSOL Multuphysics using the CFD Module. The objective is to assess numerically the influence of geometric, rheological, and fluid dynamics variables. The numerical simulations are calibrated with rheological experiments of the tailing’s samples, such as yield stress and effective viscosity as a function of solids concentration. We have analyzed all the results using dimensionless numbers and similarity laws.
