Assessment of filtration and deformation processes in the tailings dam on the basis of 3D modeling

Abstract

3D modeling of the filtration and deformation processes in the active tailings dump was carried out using the example of one of the mining enterprises in the Kola region. The results of engineering-geological and hydrological studies of the tailing dump were used as the input data. The main research methods and approaches consisted in creating a hydrogeomechanical 3D model and finite element modeling of the geomechanical and hydraulic conditions. At the same time, the main emphasis was placed on the dynamic change in water filtration through the soils of the enclosing dam, which is realized in the results of calculations through step-by-step changes in the transverse filtration coefficient. The purpose of the study was to identify the features of filtration and deformation processes occurring in the tailings storage of the mining enterprise using their 3D modeling. A hydrogeomechanical model has been developed that reflects the geometry of the investigated facility, soil properties, geomechanical and hydraulic conditions. Based on the modeling results, model parametric values of soil movements of the enclosing dam and the volumes of filtered water from the tailings dump were determined. Dependence of parametric values of the indices on the coefficient of transverse filtration is established. The dynamics of changes in the total soil movements of the enclosing dam and the volume of water filtration from the tailing pond were traced. The obtained results serve as a scientific and technical basis for assessing the hydrogeomechanical state of the tailings storage by using established graphic and analytical dependencies, and thus have undoubted practical significance.