Stability analysis of the Lingshan gold mine tailings dam under conditions of a raised dam height

The Lingshan gold tailings dam was constructed using the upstream method. To ensure that the Lingshan tailings pond is safe in its current condition and during future operation, a stability analysis was necessary. In this study, the performance of the tailings material was analyzed based on such geotechnical parameters as the grain size distribution, cyclic triaxial strength, and undrained triaxial compressive strength. First, the stability of the Lingshan tailings embankment was computed using the limit equilibrium method with the Slope/w software package. The dynamic response was later analyzed using the Quake/w software package, and the acceleration history at the crest, the dynamic liquefaction zone, and the factors of stability during the earthquake were obtained. Based on this dynamic analysis, the embankment with a crest at an elevation of 109 m (elev. 109 m) is stable after seismic loading, but the embankment with a crest at an elevation of 120 m (elev. 120 m) is not stable.