Seismic Liquefaction of Tailings Pond Soils – Geophysical Criteria for Assessment

This paper highlights the results of testing approaches to assessing seismic liquefaction of man-made soils based on geophysical data in the context of tailings storage facilities of mining and beneficiation plants within the Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin. It is demonstrated that the primary geophysical factors influencing the potential for liquefaction include predicted peak horizontal accelerations at the soil surface and the variation of shear wave velocity with depth. The depth of the studied point in the soil profile also plays a critical role. For points located below the groundwater level, variations in groundwater level position and soil density both above and below this level (within physically realistic scenarios) have a significantly lesser impact on liquefaction potential compared to the aforementioned factors. The study substantiates the prospects of geophysical methods for assessing the dynamic stability of man-made soil formations. For the first time, this methodology was applied to the tailings storage facilities of Ukraine’s mining and beneficiation plants. The proposed approach represents a promising alternative or complement to methods based on penetration characteristics, enhancing the reliability of predictions regarding the liquefaction potential of man-made soils under dynamic impacts of various origins.