Characterization of residual soil in tailings dam foundations: A combined analysis of in-situ tests and geophysical surveys with emphasis on method correspondence

Abstract

New legislation in Brazil requires that all upstream tailings dams must be closed. However, understanding the characteristics of the foundation and deposits of these dams can be complex, and conventional investigations may not be sufficient. Geophysical methods can complement conventional approaches and provide a better understanding of geotechnical structures. The objective of this investigation is to comprehensively characterize residual soil from a tailings dam foundation by integrating data from direct and indirect approaches. Data from CPTu, SCPTu, SPT, geophysical profiles, and MASW were analyzed. The results were compared with empirical correlations for other soil types, and it was found that the equations are not effective to represent the materials. The study discusses the advantages and limitations of using these empirical equations.

Full Paper