Shear wave velocity of gold tailings

Abstract

To evaluate the liquefaction potential of tailings impoundments, the in situ void ratio and the effective stresses are required. While stresses can be estimated with relative accuracy,the void ratio of tailings has proved difficult to obtain, especially below the water table. The development of in situ seismic techniques has presented new opportunities to determine the in situ void ratio of geomaterials. In addition, these seismic methods can be used to evaluate the liquefaction potential of gold tailings. However, the method currently relies on the shear wave velocity-void ratio relationships developed for sands, while gold tailings is essentially a silty material. This raises the question of the validity of such relationships for tailings material.