A geological engineering professor at Waterloo Engineering is co-author of new research that will help mining companies better understand the impacts of mine-waste disasters known as tailings flows.
Stephen Evans and other researchers created a database as part of a study that provides the first global picture of the frequency, behaviours and impacts of rapid downstream movements of mine waste following failures of tailings impoundments.
"Since 2014, there have been three high-profile events – two in Brazil and one right here in Canada," Evans said in a media release. "While much progress has been made in terms of regulation and oversight, studying past tailings flows enables better prediction of what could happen should a major tailings impoundment failure occur."
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