Page "Dam" Paragraph 21

There are three raised tailings dam designs, the upstream, downstream and centerline, named according to the movement of the crest during raising.

The specific design used it dependent upon topography, geology, climate, the type of tailings and cost.

An upstream tailings dam consists of trapezoidal embankments being constructed on top but toe to crest of another, moving the crest further upstream.

This creates a relatively flat downstream side and a jagged upstream side which is supported by tailings slurry in the impoundment.

The downstream design refers to the successive raising of the embankment that positions the fill and crest further downstream.

A centerlined dam has sequential embankment dams constructed directly on top of another while fill is placed on the downstream side for support and slurry supports the upstream side.