Tailings are the collection of left over raw material, or waste material, from many mining operations.  They are often stored in water filled containment ponds and retained by an earthen tailings dam.  These ponds may create hazards to personnel, the environment, and the communities around their operational location due to the volumes of fluid, the potentially unstable nature of earth dams or the constituents of the tailings themselves.   

Understanding the water balance is critical to mining operations.  Further, the dynamic nature of the geotechnical parameters of the tailings and the composition of the materials, as well as the limitations of the pond construction and support mechanisms allows organizations to identify areas of concern and proactively manage the tailings storage facilities. 

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