Ensuring geotechnical stability of filtered tailings stacks

Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are important for safe mine waste disposal. To address the stability concerns of hydraulically deposited TSFs, there is a shift towards filtered tailings stack technology. This thesis assessed if filtered tailings can maintain dilative states under increasing loading. To achieve this, this thesis explored the effects of structure and pore chemistry on the critical state behavior of bauxite residue reconstituted by different methods. Additionally, the effects of the initial void ratio on the critical state behaviour (transitional) of clayey tailings were studied. Finally, a comparison of residual strengths measured in situ and in the laboratory are provided.