A Comprehensive Review on Reasons for Tailings Dam Failures Based on Case History

Table 1

Basic information regarding tailings impoundment failures.

Year	Name (location)	Dam height (m)	Dam type	Failure cause (fatalities)
1928	Barahona (Chile) [31]	61	Upstream	Earthquake (54)
1937	Dos Estrellas (Mexico) [32]	UN	Upstream	Seepage (70)
1948	Kimberley (Canada) [33]	UN	Upstream	Seepage (UN)
1962	Huogudu (China) [26]	UN	Upstream	Foundation failure (171)
1965	El Cobre (Chile) [34]	36	Upstream	Earthquake (>300)
1966	Aberfan (UK) [35]	UN	Water retention	Seepage (144)
1966	Mirolubovka (Bulgaria) [36]	45	Upstream	UN (488)
1970	Mufulira (Zambia) [37]	50	Unknown	Mine subsidence (89)
1972	Buffalo Creek (USA) [38]	14–18	Upstream	Seepage (125)
1974	Bafokeng (South Africa) [39]	20	Upstream	Seepage (14)
1974	GCOS (Canada) [40]	61	Upstream	Seepage (UN)
1975	Mike Horse (USA) [37]	18	Upstream	Overtopping (UN)
1976	Dashihe (China) [41]	37	Upstream	Earthquake (UN)
1978	Syncrude (Canada) [42]	UN	Centerline	Foundation failure (UN)
1978	Mochikoshi Nos. 1 and 2 (Japan) [43]	28, 19	Upstream	Earthquake (1)
1978	Arcturus (Zimbabwe) [44]	25	Upstream	Overtopping (1)
1979	Union Carbide (USA) [30]	43	Upstream	Seepage (UN)
1985	Stava (Italy) [45]	29.5	Upstream	Seepage (268)
1985	Chenzhou (China) [46]	UN	Upstream	Overtopping (49)
1985	Cerro Negro No. 4 (Chile) [47]	40	Upstream	Earthquake (UN)
1986	Huangmeishan (China) [32]	UN	Upstream	Seepage (19)
1988	Lixi (China) [48]	40	Upstream	Overtopping (20)
1991	Sullivan (Canada) [49]	21	Upstream	Seepage (UN)
1993	Marsa (Peru) [32]	UN	Upstream	Overtopping (6)
1994	Tapo Canyon (USA) [50]	24	Upstream	Earthquake (UN)
1994	Merriespruit (South Africa) [51]	31	Upstream	Overtopping (17)
1995	Omai (Guyana) [52]	44	Unknown	Seepage (UN)
1995	Surigao (Philippines) [53]	UN	Upstream	Foundation failure (12)
1996	Porco (Bolivia) [6]	UN	Upstream	Overtopping (UN)
1996	Sgurigrad (Bulgaria) [54]	45	Upstream	Seepage (107)
1998	Los Frailes (Spain) [15]	27	Upstream	Foundation failure (UN)
2000	Baia Mare and Baia Borsa (Romania) [55]	7	Downstream	Overtopping (UN)
2002	San Marcelino Zambales (Philippines) [56]	UN	Unknown	Overtopping (UN)
2004	Pinchi Lake (Canada) [57]	12	Water retention	UN (UN)
2009	Karamken tailing plant (Russia) [58]	20	Unknown	UN (1)
2010	Ajka (Hungary) [59]	22	Downstream	Seepage (10)
2011	Kayakari (Japan) [60]	UN	Unknown	Earthquake (UN)
2012	Padcal No. 3 (Philippines) [61]	UN	Upstream	Overtopping (UN)
2014	Mount Polley (Canada) [62]	40	Unknown	Foundation failure (UN)
2015	Fundão (Brazil) [63]	90	Upstream	Seepage (19)

Note: UN = unknown.