Preliminary framework for filtered tailings deposition design considerations: a South African perspective

As global mining operations increasingly adopt filtered stack tailings (FST) deposition technology, the need for a design consideration framework becomes evident. To an extent this gap was filled in March 2024 when the BHP Rio Tinto Tailings Management Consortium's recommended approach to filtered tailings system design was published. For a South African context this gap still prevails as limited literature has been published on this topic and the implementation of the FST technology is still immature. The proposed framework is therefore aligned to South Africa’s unique environmental, regulatory, and geotechnical conditions. The framework addresses key challenges in FST implementation, including material characterisation, site-specific conditions, technology selection (filtration, transportation and stacking), as well as environmental and regulatory considerations. Filtered tailings offer a sustainable alternative to conventional wet tailings storage facilities by enhancing water recovery and reducing environmental risks. However, large-scale adoption in South Africa remains limited due to high capital costs, technical barriers, and a lack of standardised methodologies. This preliminary framework aims to bridge these gaps by aligning global best practices with local parameters to guide tailings design engineers in evaluating and implementing FST systems. The framework aims to facilitate informed decision-making through design consideration guidelines, promoting environmentally sound and structurally robust tailings management practices. By supporting trade-off analyses between different deposition methodologies, this research advances sustainable mining practices in South Africa while contributing to the global discourse on tailings management innovation.