Short Courses

Short Course on Tailings Dams

The Short Course on Tailings Dams will provide a comprehensive overview of the design, construction, operation, and closure of tailings storage facilities, with a strong emphasis on safety, innovation, and sustainability. This intensive program will bring together international experts and professionals from the mining and hydraulic sectors to share experiences, updated methodologies, and global management standards.

Throughout the course, participants will explore the fundamental principles of geotechnical and hydraulic engineering applied to tailings management, different construction methods, instrumentation and stability monitoring, as well as strategies for environmental management and responsible closure.

The course will include international case studies, lessons learned from past incidents, and the implementation of best practices promoted by organizations such as ICOLD and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.

Designed for engineers, researchers, consultants, regulators, and dam operators, this course aims to strengthen technical competencies and promote a culture of prevention, transparency, and sustainability within the mining industry.

Objective: to provide participants with a practical and multidisciplinary update that contributes to the global safety, efficiency, and sustainability of tailings dams.

Day 1

Date

Thursday, May 21

Full day

Title

Short Course 1: Perspectives and Advances in Vane Shear Testing for Material Characterization (Filling, Foundation Materials and Embankments)

Content

The vane shear test apparatus has been used extensively for in-situ testing in clays and is gaining more use in tailings facilities to characterize undrained shear strength parameters and behavior. However, there are a number of challenges with conducting a vane shear test, particularly in tailings and silty sands, and interpreting the results. A working group in ICOLD has been formed that is exploring the use of the vane shear test in clay and tailings. This working group will present their findings in this workshop and there will be an opportunity for the participants to share their perspectives and experience.

In addition, the next step in the evolution of the vane shear test apparatus is to be able to measure the pore pressures at the vane during insertion and rotation. This information will be helpful to discern whether the vane shear test is being conducted in a drained, undrained, or partially drained manner. This can also provide insights to the brittleness of the soil being tested. Such a tool is being developed and the ICOLD working group has been exploring this concept since 2024. As part of this workshop, a summary of the research, interpretations, findings, and challenges will be presented. Participants will be able to provide input to the research and plan for the continued evolution of this tool.

This workshop will link to the Slope Stability Part 3 Short Course.

Experts involved in the organization of the activities

Andy Small (Klohn Crippen Berger)

Yasmin Byrne (ConeTec)

Jason Dejong (University of California, Davis)

Andy Fourie (University of Western Australia)

Mason Gafghazi (University of Toronto)

Scott Olson (University of Illinois)

Luis Torres Cruz (University of British Columbia)

Day 2

Date

Friday, May 22

Full day

tITLE

Short Course 2: Slope Stability Part 3

cONTENT

The short course will build on previous ICOLD training sessions on slope stability (Parts 1 and 2). Part 1 described the fundamentals of slope stability in dams with contractive soils, and Part 2 provided tools for assessing the stability of dams that do not meet standard factor of safety guidelines. Part 3 will explore various additional concepts related to slope stability assessment in dams that do not meet standard guidelines, including vulnerability assessments. The course will be an extension of the slope stability course to be delivered at the 2nd SMIG Symposium in March 2026. This course will feature the keynote speakers selected for the Part 3 training.

Experts involved in the organization of the activities

Andy Small (Klohn Crippen Berger)

Paul Ridlen (Knight Piesold)

Alejo Sfriso (SRK)