Deformation monitoring and security-stability analysis for tailings pond starter dam with sectional construction

Minimum elevation of starter dam axis is 1642.0 m, crest elevation is 1695.0 m, height is 53.0 m, crest width is 4.0 m, the dam axis length is 198.3 m, the upstream slope ratio is 1:2.0, and the downstream slope ratio is 1:2.0. The RCC dam is a permeable dam, in which a 2 m wide bridleways is set every 10 m height on the dam and drainage ditches in are set at the junction of hillside and abutment. The final elevation of piled embankment outstation is 1767.0 m, its outer slope slope ratio is 1:5.0, with 3.6 m average annual rising. Outer slope of fill dam is covered with dry stone pitching, which sets a 2 m wide bridleways per1 OVERVIEWTailing pond, damming the valley mouth or compound, is used for storage of ore tailings or industrial waste, which is produced by metal and nonmetal mines after beneficiation. Tailing pond is a major hazard with high potential of man-made debris flow, once the dam breaks, it will cause great disaster follows by great losses. Operational tailing ponds are not only related to the mine's own safety and economic benefits, but also closely related to the lives and property of the downstream residents and their surrounding environment (Ma et al. 2010, Xie et al. 2009). The security and stability of starter Dam with Section Construction plays a vital role for the safe operation of tailing pond. Therefore, the starter tailing dam stability monitoring and analysis are of great significance.