Tailings & Mine Waste
Expanding world markets for mineral commodities, such as alumina, copper, gold, and zinc, which are foundational components of the modern world (for example the computer on which you are reading this), yield every increasing waste. Our research is aimed to improve the long-term stewardship of tailings and mine waste. CSU is a founding member of the Tailings Center, and Dr. Scalia is the Site Director for CSU. Research in tailings & mine waste at CSU is supported in part by the Tailings & Mine Waste (T&MW) Conference Committee and is conducted in collaboration with CSU geotechnical engineering wizard Associate Professor Chris Bareither. An overview of T&MW research focus areas is shown below.
In addition, every two years, CSU, with the support of the T&MW Conference Committee, hosts the annual T&MW Conference in Colorado. The support and guidance of the T&MW Conference Committee is instrumental to our success and is gratefully acknowledged!
Active Research
Hydro-mechanical behavior of filtered tailings and comingled filtered tailings and waste rock
Water balance covers built with filtered tailings and waste rock
Engineering heterogeneity into tailings storage facilities
Large-strain consolidation of slurried tailings
Active Students
Alumni
