Relating laboratory geomembrane longevity data to represent field situations in tailings storage

January 7, 2026

The need for tailings storage facilities is increasing due to increased mineral extraction, particularly copper and rare earths to support the rapid increase in the number of electric cars. Higher mining throughputs to mine lower-grade deposits require managing larger volumes of tailings while maintaining environmental protection, which may require limiting seepage to the environment and/or oxidation in tailings facilities. These challenges have increased the interest in the use of geomembranes, particularly polyethylene geomembranes, as a cost-effective form of containment and oxidation control. Liners increase dam safety by reducing the potential for a piping failure and lowering the phreatic surface within the dam. Tailings facilities are typically permanent landscape features, so their long-term performance and risks (including the impact of design element degradation) must be considered. After 30 years of research on landfill applications, Queen’s research team has over a decade of data on geomembrane exposure to mining solutions across a pH range of 0.5 to 12.5. Unfortunately, the available mining data is based solely on immersion tests. The preceding research for landfill applications has shown that the rate of antioxidant depletion of a given geomembrane immersed in a solution is maybe 3 to 5 times faster than for the same geomembrane in a lined system in contact with the same solution above the geomembrane. This paper describes a system being adopted to provide a similar comparison in a tailings facility application. The early results for mining applications, particularly when geomembranes are protected by tailings above and subgrade below will be discussed. The paper describes a collaborative approach between KCB and Queen’s to assess how adjacent materials affect geomembrane service life in mining applications with early findings.

Willms, D., McLeod, H., Cross, R.A. 2025 " Relating laboratory geomembrane longevity data to represent field situations in tailings storage,” in Proceedings of the GeoManitoba 2025 Conference, 21-24 September 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Canadian Geotechnical Society and Canadian Permafrost Association (CGS and CPA)