Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Material Characterisation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover The Hydraulic Transport and Storage of Extractive Waste

Part of the book series: Professional Practice in Earth Sciences ((PRES))

  • 388 Accesses

Abstract

The design, construction, monitoring and closure of all mineral waste depositories require detailed knowledge of the geotechnical and geochemical characteristics of the extractive waste products and the foundation materials underlying the MWF as well as of the construction materials used to build the confinement structures.

I only know that I know what I don’t know

—Socrates

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The long history of mining in Europe indicates that the site characterisation should include an investigation for the presence and extent of old mine workings, particularly in relation to dam foundations and the long-term stability of the storage basin (Cambridge 2004).

  2. 2.

    Initial desk studies should include, where appropriate, identification of any potential for former/existing services and unexploded ordinance.

References

  • ANCOLD (2012) Guidelines on tailings dams—Planning, design, construction, operation and closure

    Google Scholar 

  • BC (1990) Draft Acid Rock Drainage Technical Guide, British Columbia Acid Mine Drainage Task Force Report, August 1989/May BC 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop AW (1948) A new sampling tool for use in cohesionless sand below ground water level. Geotechnique 1:125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blewett J, McCarter WJ, Crips TM, Starrs G (2001) Monitoring sedimentation of clay slurries. Geotechnique 51(8): 723–728

    Google Scholar 

  • BSI (1997) BS EN 932-3:1997 Tests for general properties of aggregates. Procedure and terminology for simplified petrographic description

    Google Scholar 

  • BSI (2003) BS EN 13925-1:2003 Non-destructive testing. X-ray diffraction from polycrystalline and amorphous materials. General principles

    Google Scholar 

  • Cambridge M (1978) Unpublished laboratory trials

    Google Scholar 

  • Cambridge M (2004) Tailings Disposal in Cornwall—Past and Present, Professor Kontopoulos Memorial Volume, April 2004

    Google Scholar 

  • Cambridge M (2013) The use of historic tailings dam incidents in the development of emergency plans. European Club of ICOLD Workshop, Dams: Incidents and Accidents, What Can We Learn? Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrier WD (1991) Stability of tailings dams, XV Ciclo di Conferenze di Geotecnica di Torino

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TR 16363:2012 Characterization of Waste—Sampling and analysis of weak acid dissociable cyanide discharged into tailings ponds

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TR 16363:2012 Characterization of Waste—Kinetic testing for assessing acid generation potential of sulfidic waste from extractive industries

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TR 16365:2012 Characterization of Waste—Sampling of waste from extractive industries

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TR 16376:2012 Characterization of Waste—Overall guidance document on characterisation of wastes for the extractive industry

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TS 14429:2005 Characterization of waste—leaching behaviour tests—Influence of pH on leaching with initial acid/base addition

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN/TS 14997:2006 Characterization of waste—leaching behaviour tests—Influence of pH on leaching with continuous pH-control

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton CRI, Mathews MC, Simons NE (1995) Site investigation, 2nd edn. Wiley-Brackwell, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission Decision 2009/359/EC (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission Decision 2009/360/EC (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • EN 12457—1/2/3/4 (2002) Characterisation of waste—leaching compliance tests of granular waste materials and sludges

    Google Scholar 

  • EN 14899:2005 Characterisation of waste—Sampling of waste materials

    Google Scholar 

  • EN15875 (2011) Characterisation of Waste—Static test for determination of acid potential and neutralisation potential of sulfidic waste

    Google Scholar 

  • EN 1997-1:2004 Geotechnical Design—Part 1: General rules

    Google Scholar 

  • EN 1997-2:2007 Geotechnical Design—Part 2: Ground investigation and testing

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 14688-1:2002 Geotechnical investigation and testing—Identification and classification of soil. Part 1: Identification and description

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 14688-2:2004 Geotechnical investigation and testing—Identification and classification of soil, Part 2, Principles for a classification

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 14689:2003 Geotechnical investigation and testing—Identification and classification of rock

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 17892 (2014) Geotechnical investigation and testing—Laboratory testing of soils

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 22282 (2012) Geotechnical investigation and testing—Geohydraulic testing

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 22475-1:2012 Geotechnical investigations and testing. Sampling methods and groundwater measurements. Technical principles for execution

    Google Scholar 

  • EN ISO 22476 (2012) Geotechnical investigation and testing—Field testing

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2009) Commission Decision of 30 April 2009 completing the technical requirements for waste characterisation laid down by Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the management of waste from extractive industries (2009/360/EC)

    Google Scholar 

  • European Standard Earthworks—prEN 16907 Parts 1–6 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • European Technical Specification CEN/TS 16229:2011: Characterisation of waste—Sampling and analysis of weak acid dissociable cyanide discharged into tailings ponds

    Google Scholar 

  • Fear CE, Robertson PK (1995) Estimating the undrained strength of sands: a theoretical framework. Can Geotech J 32(5):859–870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazen A (1895) The Filtration of Public Water-Supplies. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Head KH (2006) Manual of soil laboratory testing. Vol 1: Soil classification and compaction tests, 3rd edn. Whittle Publishing, Scotland

    Google Scholar 

  • Head KH, Epps RJ (2011) Manual of soil laboratory testing. Vol 2: Permeability, shear strength and compressibility tests, 3rd edn. Whittle publishing, Scotland

    Google Scholar 

  • Head KH, Epps RJ (2013) Manual of soil laboratory testing. Vol 3: Effective stress tests, 3rd edn. Whittle publishing, Scotland

    Google Scholar 

  • Hight DW (2000) Sampling methods: evaluation of disturbance and new practical techniques for high quality sampling in soils, Keynote Lecture. In: Proceedings of the 7th National Congress of the Portuguese Geotechnical Society, Porto

    Google Scholar 

  • Hvorslev MJ (1949) Subsurface Exploration and Sampling of Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes. Waterways Experimental Station, Vicksburgh, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • INAP (2009) Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) 2009 Guide sponsored by International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamiolkowski M (2014) Soil mechanics and the observational method: challenges at the Zelazny Most copper tailings disposal facility. Géotechnique 64(8):590–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferies M, Been K (2006) Soil liquefaction: A critical state approach. Taylor & Francis, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer SL (1996) Geotechnical earthquake engineering. Pearson Education, Inc., London

    Google Scholar 

  • La Rochelle P, Sarrailh J, Tavenas F, Roy M, Leroueil S (1981) Causes of sampling disturbance and design of a new sampler for sensitive soils. Can Geotech J 18(1):52–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd CC (1991) Stability evaluation during staged construction. The twenty-second Karl Terzaghi Lecture, Boston, 1986. J Geotech Eng ASCE 117:537–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambe TW, Whitman RV (1979) Soil mechanics SI version. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence RW, Wang Y (1997) Determination of Neutralization Potential in the Prediction of Acid Rock Drainage. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage. Vancouver, BC, pp 449–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefebvre G, Poulin C (1979) A new method of sampling in sensitive clay. Can Geotech J 16(1):226–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lune T, Robertson PK, Powell JJM (1997) CPT in geotechnical practice. E. and F. N. Spon, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mair RJ, Wood DM (1987) Pressuremeter testing, methods and investigation, CIRIA

    Google Scholar 

  • Makdisi FI, Seed HB (1978) Simplified procedures for estimating dam and embankment earthquake induced deformation. ASCE J Geotech Eng Div 104(GT7):849–867

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW (2016) Keynote lecture: In-situ geocharacterization of soils in the year 2016 and beyond. Advances in Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Synergy (Proceedings PCSMGE, Buenos Aires), vol 5. IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp 139–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Monroy R, McCarter WJ (2017) Monitoring the electrical properties of metal ore mine tailings during sedimentation. Environmental Geotechnics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jenge.17.00021

  • Miller S, Robertson A, Donahue T (1997) Advances in Acid Drainage Prediction using the Net Acid Generation (NAG) Test. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage. Vancouver, BC, pp 533–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson SM, Stark TD (2003) Yield strength ratio and liquefaction analysis of slopes and embankments. J Geotech Eng ASCE 129(8):727–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price WA, Errington JC (1998) Guidelines for metal leaching and acid rock drainage at minesite in British Columbia, Ministry of Energy and Mines, August 1998

    Google Scholar 

  • Santamarina JC, Klein K, Fam M (2001) Soils and Waves: particulate materials behaviour, characterization and process monitoring. John Wiley & sons, Toronto, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma SK (1981) Seismic displacement analysis of earth dams. J Soil Mech Found Div 107(12):1735–1739

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons NE, Menzies B, Matthews MC (2002) A Short Course in Geotechnical Site Investigation. Thomas Telford Ltd, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Skempton AW (1953) The Colloidal Activity of Clays. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, vol I. Zurich, pp. 57–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Skolasinki DZ, Haile JP, Smith AC (1990) Design Objectives and Performance of Tailings Management System for the Jamestown Mine, California, Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Western Regional Symposium on Mining and Mineral Processing Wastes, Berkeley, California

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobek A, Schuller WA, Freeman WJ, Smith R (1978) Field and Laboratory Methods Applicable to Overburdens and Minesoil, (West Virginia Univ., Morgantown College of Agriculture and Forestry): EPA report no. EPA-600/2-78-054, pp. 47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Szymanski MB (1999) Evaluation of Safety of Tailings Dams. BiTech Publishing, Vancouver

    Google Scholar 

  • The EU classification system (Hazardous/Non-hazardous, non-inert or inert waste), (Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, Decision 2000/532/EC and EWD 2009/359/EC (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • The International Finance Corporation (IFC) (2012) Performance Standards (PS), the de facto regulations in non-OECD countries, PS 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention, January 1, 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Twort AC, Hoather RC, Law FM (1994) Water Supply, 2nd edn. Edward Arnold

    Google Scholar 

  • Vick SG (1990) Planning, Design and Analysis of Tailings Dams. BiTech Publishers Ltd, Vancouver

    Google Scholar 

  • Vick SG (1992) Stability evaluation during staged construction. Discuss J Geotech Eng ASCE 118(8):1283–1289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youd TL, Idriss IM (2001) Liquefaction resistance of soils: summary report from the 1996 NCEER and 1998 NCEER/NSF workshops on evaluation of liquefaction resistance of soils. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 127(4):297–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cantab Consulting Ltd, Ashford, Kent, UK

    Mike Cambridge

  2. Amec Foster Wheeler plc, London, UK

    Rafael Monroy

  3. Independent, formerly Amec Foster Wheeler plc, Milton Keynes, UK

    Miguel Diaz

  4. Independent, formerly Amec Foster Wheeler plc, Woodchurch, Kent, UK

    Ciaran Molloy

Authors
  1. Mike Cambridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rafael Monroy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Miguel Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ciaran Molloy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mike Cambridge .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cantab Consulting Ltd, Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom

    Mike Cambridge

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Cambridge, M., Monroy, R., Diaz, M., Molloy, C. (2018). Material Characterisation. In: Cambridge, M. (eds) The Hydraulic Transport and Storage of Extractive Waste. Professional Practice in Earth Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69248-7_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation