Design criteria for upstream raised tailings storage facilities

For more than 100 years upstreaming has been the dominant raising method for tailings storage facilities in Southern Africa. However, there is a growing view worldwide that inherently less safe centreline or downstream of facilities. Considering 90% 250 plus operational storing Africa are upstream raised and cannot economically be converted to, replaced by, facilities, arguments against were examined this study. It was found no compelling reason exists to ban Africa, provided failure mechanisms thoroughly considered prevent serious design omissions. The ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) approach introduced practical deal with risk failure, its hierarchical application illustrated.