Tailings dams must be designed taking into account aspects related to post-closure and long-term stability to minimise risks in the future. An experimental programme was realised to study the granular iron tailings of a particular dam located in Brazil regarding the possible changes in its characteristics under different stressing agents’ actions. The tailings were physically, chemically and mineralogically characterised. The geotechnical behaviour was investigated by consolidated isotropic undrained triaxial tests. All laboratory tests were performed with fluid collected with the tailings. The material is constituted of quartz, haematite and minor goethite, with a silty sand texture and non-plastic nature. A group of samples was tested just after moulding and identified as unaltered tailings. Another group of samples was submitted to different processes in the laboratory, tested afterwards and identified as altered tailings. Three laboratory procedures were planned and applied, inspired by some long-term processes: ageing, cyclic wetting and drying, and cyclic temperature and pressure combined action. Some altered tailings tended to develop higher excess pore pressure under undrained loading. The results showed that stable mineralogy is not enough to ensure the stability of tailings dams. New stressing tests must be devised to be included into tailings dams design to address long-term stability.
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