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Failure of a mine waste dump in Zimbabwe: Causes and consequences

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Environmental Geology and Water Sciences

Abstract

A combination of factors are considered important in causing the failure and subsequent development of a flowslide of a gold mine waste dump (or tailings dam) at Arcturus, near Harare, Zimbabwe. These factors comprise poor basal drainage, steep perimeter walls, saturation of the walls and basal sediments through continued spigoting of slurry during a period of heavy rainfall, and the effect of this saturation on the tailings. Properties of the tailings, eyewitness accounts, documentary evidence, and site characteristics are discussed. The failure and subsequent development of a fatal 300-m flowslide are reconstructed in a five-phase developmental model. The general applicability of the results is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University College Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, Swansea, U.K.

    Richard A. Shakesby

  2. Department of Geography, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    J. Richard Whitlow

Authors
  1. Richard A. Shakesby
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  2. J. Richard Whitlow
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Shakesby, R.A., Whitlow, J.R. Failure of a mine waste dump in Zimbabwe: Causes and consequences. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 18, 143–153 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01704668

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01704668

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