Recognising soft-sediment deformation structures as evidence of static liquefaction in historical tailings from Central Mexico

IF 3.7 2区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Pub Date : 2025-03-04 DOI:10.1007/s10064-025-04194-2

Raúl Miranda-Aviles, María Jesús Puy-Alquiza, Velia Yolanda Ordaz Zubia, Carmen Salazar-Hernández, Gabriela Ana Zanor, Mercedes Salazar-Hernández

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Abstract

This paper presents a case study of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDSs) in mining tailings from Central Mexico’s Guanajuato Mining District (GMD). We analyse SSDSs formed in anthropogenic historical environments (tailings) and under static (non-seismic) conditions in three inactive tailings deposits. Physical characterisation tests and sedimentological analyses were conducted at each site for SSDSs and their associations. We found that rapid sedimentation resulted in excess pore pressure, which caused overloading. This overloading was enough to trigger liquefaction and the formation of various SSDS types like flame structures, convolutes, folds, load casts, detached pseudo-nodules, and clastic dykes. The SSDSs and mechanisms described show that the tailings were momentarily liquefied and locally fluidised. However, no flow failure has been reported in the tailing deposits studied. SSDS studies based on known contexts are needed to improve and document the diagnostic features of liquefaction and fluidisation studies of non-seismic origin. Also, it is important to exercise caution when undertaking mining activities near tailing storage areas to prevent catastrophic consequences.

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来源期刊

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment 工程技术-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.10

自引率

11.90%

发文量

445

审稿时长

4.1 months

期刊介绍： Engineering geology is defined in the statutes of the IAEG as the science devoted to the investigation, study and solution of engineering and environmental problems which may arise as the result of the interaction between geology and the works or activities of man, as well as of the prediction of and development of measures for the prevention or remediation of geological hazards. Engineering geology embraces: • the applications/implications of the geomorphology, structural geology, and hydrogeological conditions of geological formations; • the characterisation of the mineralogical, physico-geomechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of all earth materials involved in construction, resource recovery and environmental change; • the assessment of the mechanical and hydrological behaviour of soil and rock masses; • the prediction of changes to the above properties with time; • the determination of the parameters to be considered in the stability analysis of engineering works and earth masses.