Impact of Mineral Precipitation on Hydraulic Properties and Performance of Tailings Dams

January 7, 2026

Mineral precipitation can significantly alter the properties and performance of filters and drains in tailings dams. Precipitated minerals accumulate in pore spaces, leading to reduced permeability and increased pore pressure, which may adversely affect dam stability. This study reviews a selection of relevant literature that discusses the relationships between mineral precipitation and hydraulic properties. We discuss site-specific physical and geochemical factors and the challenges of upscaling properties from pore-scale or laboratory scale characterization to dam-scale analysis. We present a characterization approach that integrates general principles from literature and site-specific field testing. The results from this study will inform future modeling work to assess the influence of mineral precipitation on phreatic surfaces and dam performance.

Gibbs, B., Mee, E., Sprague, D., Durocher, J. 2025 " Impact of Mineral Precipitation on Hydraulic Properties and Performance of Tailings Dams,” in Proceedings of the Tailings and Mine Waste 2025 Conference, 2-5 November 2025, Banff, Alberta: University of Alberta Geotechnical Centre (UAlbertaGC) (CGS and CPA)