1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  4. Tailings & Mine Waste Management

From innovative tailings storage solutions to advanced dewatering techniques and resilient designs, our multi-disciplinary team advances responsible mining practices through integrated mine waste solutions.

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Comprehensive mine waste solutions

At WSP, we understand that responsible mining includes the effective management of all types of mine waste. We provide advice and develop tailings and waste management approaches that align with evolving standards and best practices throughout the entire mining life cycle. Our technical expertise, global governance programs, and deep understanding of risk enable us to create innovative solutions that improve stakeholder outcomes. By integrating hazard identification, risk assessment, and control methods early in the design process, we mitigate health and safety risks and safeguard communities and the environment.

Leveraging our global network, we build bespoke teams with diverse skill sets to meet the unique requirements of each project. Utilizing innovative solutions in conjunction with proven technologies to create opportunities for improved stakeholder outcomes, our team takes a holistic view, incorporating ESG principles at every phase of a mine and facility.

 
Multi-disciplinary expertise to support your facilities

icn-checkmark   Tailings Storage Facilities
 

icn-checkmark   Filtration and Thickening
 Plants

icn-checkmark   Waste Rock / Overburden
 Facilities

icn-checkmark   Water Treatment Operations

icn-checkmark   Heap Leach Facilities
   

icn-checkmark   Water Storage Facilities

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Designing with the future in mind

Tailings storage facilities often remain in place long after the mine itself has closed. The most appropriate tailings solution should consider all options and be informed by a robust options assessment. Our team continuously innovates and identifies new methods and technologies that are robust, practical, and economical at scale while decreasing operational complexity and with a focus on safety as well as post-closure land capability.

Having a clear closure plan that is acceptable to the community and sufficiently low risk is critical for both new and existing sites. Designing with closure in mind is critical, no facility operates forever, and decisions made today have a lasting impact on tomorrow.

img-Delivering a full range of tailings solutions

Delivering a full range of tailings solutions

From conventional slurries to innovative dewatered solutions, we are at the leading edge of developing and implementing new approaches, in line with the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management and regional standards.

Containment Embankment TSFs

WSP is a world leader in supporting development of TSFs that employ containment embankments.  Whether it is upstream, downstream or centreline, using earthfill or cyclone sands, WSP has the breadth and depth of experience to support project development, with a rich history of projects in a variety of commodities, climatic conditions and countries.

Discover our work at Teck’s Quebrada Blanca copper mine on the QB2 sand dam.

Co-Disposal / Co-Mingling

From early studies to designing scaled pilot plants, co-disposal of waste rock with tailings is a developing approach to reduce the footprint and increase the stability of tailings storage facilities. Whether it’s mixed or co-located, we can help.

We’re currently supporting a client with the design and commissioning of a co-disposal pilot plant for a copper mine.

Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking

Co-developed by WSP and Anglo American, Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) is an innovative new tailings management concept that recovers water, increases stability and simplifies closure. HDS combines and co-disposes sand generated by coarse particle recovery from the tailings stream aiming to produce a stable, well-consolidated tailings stack with a low degree of saturation.

Learn more about the dewatering technology and the field trial we led at El Soldado.

Thickened Tailings and Paste Technology

Leading pioneers in paste and thickening technology since the 1990s, we’ve designed and commissioned over 30 paste plants all around the world. We support surface deposition as well as backfill applications.

Learn about a paste plant we built entirely underground.

Filtered Tailings Management

As filter technology becomes scalable, WSP is supporting the development of pilot plants and the transition to large-scale filtered tailings projects. Filtered tailings is incorporated into all our early-stage options studies to support owners with making a clear decision for their life of mine tailings management.

Learn about GoldSET, our innovative tool to support multiple accounts assessments / multi-criteria analysis.

   

Integrated mine waste services

Our global team of industry-leading tailings and mine waste experts can assist you in every phase of mine waste operations, from strategic planning, risk informed stewardship, technology evaluations, laboratory testing, and options assessments to engineering, construction management, commissioning, training and closure solutions.

img- Mine Tailings Engineering Services

Tailings Engineering Services

  • TSF design – from concept to closure

  • Site selection and options analysis

  • Risk assessment & management

  • Project development studies

  • Design analyses including numerical modelling and design analyses (seepage, stability, consolidation, water balance, etc.)

  • Detailed engineering

  • Construction QA/QC

  • Operational support

  • Closure design, implementation & monitoring

Governance Support

  • Engineer of Record
  • Independent Tailings Review Board support
  • Third Party Review services
  • GISTM compliance
img- Mine Governance Support
img- Mine Integrated Mine Waste Management Services

Integrated Mine Waste Management Services

  • Advanced testing laboratories

  • Geochemical characterization

  • Geotechnical and geophysical investigations

  • Surface water and dam break studies

  • Site-specific seismic hazard assessments and stability assessments

  • Contaminant fate and transport modelling

  • Groundwater assessments

  • Reprocessing of tailings

  • Water management

  • Environmental approvals and management

  • Emergency preparedness and response plans

Plant Design and Tailings Transport

  • Conceptual, detailed design + commissioning (including EPCM) for paste and thickened and filtered tailings plants

  • Backfill, hydraulic fill and cemented rockfill plants

  • Surface tailings deposition

  • Pumping & piping

  • Underground paste distribution design

  • Dewatering, filters (vacuum and pressure)

Learn more about our mine infrastructure services.

img- Mine Plant Design and Tailings Transport
img- Mine Heap Leach Facilities
   

Heap Leach Facilities

  • Heap leach design

  • Heap leach material characterization

  • Site selection and options analysis

  • Risk assessment & management

  • Project development studies

  • Detailed engineering

  • Construction QA/QC

  • Operational support

  • Closure design, implementation & monitoring

Advanced Testing Laboratories

Our advanced tailings testing laboratories, combined with our highly experienced engineers, enable us to offer our clients cutting-edge laboratory analysis to inform robust designs.

  • Direct Simple Shear Tests

  • Slurry Consolidometer Tests

  • Triaxial Tests and Critical State Testing

  • Cyclic Direct Simple Shear Tests

  • Hollow Cylinder Testing

  • Hazardous materials testing

  • Bench scale rheology for paste

  • Laboratory scale flow loop

 

Innovation

We partner with our clients to develop and implement new approaches that minimize risk and create opportunities, such as through: 

  • Co-developing hydraulic dewatered stacking

  • Designing large-scale integrated mine waste facilities (co-mingling and co-disposal)

  • Patented pipeline pressure relief device

  • Point of discharge polymer addition

  • Carbon dioxide sequestration and mineralization

  • Remining, reuse and reprocessing options assessment

icn-industry-checklist

Industry Guidance

Our team are actively engaged in education and sharing best practices through conference proceedings, supporting academia and contributing to many valuable industry resources such as:

  • SME Tailings Management Handbook

  • Guidelines for Mine Waste Dump and Stockpile Design

  • Paste & Thickened Tailings - a Guide

  • Handbook on Mine Fill

  • Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide

  • AusIMM Tailings Management Course

  • And many more!

Need support in managing mine waste effectively?

Connect with our tailings and mine waste experts to explore innovative, sustainable solutions for your operations.

Discover some of our mine waste projects
 

Insights from our mine waste experts

hydraulic dewatered stacking, stability, water recovery, closure

July 2023 | 5 minutes

Innovation in Tailings Dewatering

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mine waste, carbon dioxide removal, mineral carbonation, tailings

October 2024 | 5 minutes

Mineral carbonation: A carbon dioxide removal method worth considering?

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mine waste, research, testing, polymer technology

January 2023

Polymer Technology Increases a Mines Life Through Better Tailings Management

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mine waste, GISTM, tailings management

January 2021 | 5 minutes

Embracing the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management

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