CanBreach (Canadian Tailings Dam Breach Research) - an integrated tailings dam breach research and technology development project

采矿产生大量的废物，称为尾矿，它们永远储存在大型水坝后面。如果尾矿坝坍塌，就像最近在不列颠哥伦比亚省威廉姆斯湖附近的波利山矿山发生的那样，尾矿可能会流很长一段距离，并可能导致重大的安全、环境和经济后果。尽管如此，人们对流动的尾矿的行为知之甚少，因此，用来预测它们可能移动多远的方法还没有很好地发展起来。该研究项目旨在填补这一知识空白，并为工程师提供更好的工具，包括计算机模拟，以帮助管理这些重要的采矿风险。项目团队包括来自三所大学（不列颠哥伦比亚大学、女王大学和滑铁卢大学）的研究人员，以及来自两家大型矿业公司（帝国石油资源有限公司和森科尔能源公司）和三家咨询公司（BGC工程公司、Klohn Krippen Berger公司和Golder Associates有限公司）的行业参与者。这项工作将结合实际尾矿坝溃坝事件的实地观察、实验室实验和计算机模型，利用现有的世界级研究设施，包括女王大学的一个60米长的实验水槽。该项目将培训13名学生，使加拿大公司处于尾矿坝工程的前沿，并最终提高加拿大和世界各地采矿作业的安全性和可持续性。

Mining produces massive volumes of waste, called tailings, which are stored forever behind large dams. If a tailings dam breaks, as one did recently at the Mount Polley mine near Williams Lake, British Columbia, the tailings can flow long distances, and major safety, environmental and economic consequences can result. In spite of this, little is actually understood about the behaviour of flowing tailings, and consequently, the methods that are used to predict how far they may travel are not well developed. This research project aims to fill this knowledge gap and equip engineers with better tools, including computer simulations, to help manage these important mining risks. The project team includes researchers from three universities (the University of British Columbia, Queen's University and the University of Waterloo), and industry participants from two large mining companies (Imperial Oil Resources Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc.) and three consulting companies (BGC Engineering Inc., Klohn Krippen Berger and Golder Associates Ltd.). The work will combine field observations of real tailings dam break events, laboratory experiments and computer modelling using existing world-class research facilities, including a 60 m long experimental flume at Queen's University. The project will train 13 students, position Canadian companies at the forefront of tailings dam engineering and, ultimately, improve the safety and sustainability of mining operations in Canada and around the world.