Standard No.:	GB/T 50547-2022
English Name:	Technical code for geotechnical engineering of tailings embankment
Chinese Name:	尾矿堆积坝岩土工程技术标准
Professional Classification:	GB    National Standard
Issued by:	AQSIQ, MOHRUD
Issued on:	2022-09-08
Implemented on:	2022-12-1
Status:	valid
Superseding:	GB 50547-2010 Technical code for geotechnical engineering of tailings embankment
Language:	English
File Format:	PDF
Word Count:	21500 words
Price(USD):	645.0
Delivery:	via email in 1~5 business day

According to the requirements of Document JIANBIAO [2019] No.8 issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China, Notice on printing and distributing the development and related work plan for engineering construction codes and standards in 2019, this standard is prepared by Xi'an Engineering Investigation & Design Research Institute of China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Co., Ltd. jointly with organizations concerned. During the process of revising this code, the drafting group, after extensive investigation and careful summarization of practical experience, with reference to relevant standards and based on widely soliciting opinions, has finalized this code through review. The main technical contents of this standard are as follows: general provisions, terms, basic requirements, geotechnical investigation of tailings embankment, engineering geological mapping and survey, exploration and sampling, in-situ tests and laboratory tests, geotechnical engineering analysis, documentation of geotechnical engineering report, inspection and monitoring, hidden hazards resolving, etc. The main contents of the revision of this standard are as follows: 1. The categorization of geotechnical investigation of tailings embankment has been added, which are divided into operation period investigation, expansion and reconstruction investigation, tailings pond closure investigation and special investigation; 2. The specific requirements for engineering geophysical exploration, flat dilatometer test and other investigation means and in-situ cataloging work have been added; 3. The relevant contents and technical requirements of seepage calculation and analysis, dam slope stability analysis and stress and deformation analysis have been added; 4. The relevant contents and technical requirements of flood drainage facilities monitoring have been added; 5. The relevant contents and technical requirements of water environment monitoring of tailings pond have been added; 6. The relevant contents of red mud have been deleted; 7. The Appendix B, "Requirement of engineering geologic drilling for tailings embankment" has been deleted, and its relevant contents have been included in Clause 6 "Exploration and sampling"; 8. The Appendix C, "Method of installation of pore pressure gauges" has been deleted. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China is in charge of the administration of this standard. Technical standard for geotechnical engineering of tailings embankment 1 General provisions 1.0.1 This standard is prepared to standardize the technical work for geotechnical engineering of tailings embankment, while applying advanced technology, ensuring quality, protecting the environment and safeguarding people's lives and property. 1.0.2 This standard is applicable to the investigation, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of tailings embankment. 1.0.3 The geotechnical investigation shall be carried out in the tailings embankment operation, expansion and reconstruction, and tailings pond closure and stoping. 1.0.4 The investigation, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of tailings embankment shall conform to the provisions of this standard and the current relevant national standards. 2 Terms 2.0.1 tailings wastes produced in beneficiation, which can be described by the characteristics of soil 2.0.2 tailings pond place for storing tailings discharged from metal and nonmetal mines after sorting 2.0.3 tailings dam surrounding structures of tailings ponds blocking tailings and water 2.0.4 starter dam dam built with soil and stone materials, which is used as the drainage or support body of tailings embankment 2.0.5 tailings embankment dam constructed by tailings in the process of tailings production, above the crest of the starter dam 2.0.6 whole storage capacity space volume enclosed by the elevation plane of dam crest, below the slope of tailings embankment body and above the bottom of tailings pond (excluding the volume of dam body constructed by non-tailings) 2.0.7 total storage capacity full storage capacity in a design final state 2.0.8 deposited beach surface layer of sediment formed by hydraulic transmitted alluvium of tailings, which is divided into the above-water and under-water sections according to the water surface of catchment area in the pond 2.0.9 beach crest intersection line between deposited beach surface and external slope surface of dam 2.0.10 beach width horizontal distance from a water edge line in a pond area to a beach crest 2.0.11 phreatic line place of the free surface of seepage water in a dam body, which is a curve in the cross section 3 Basic requirements 3.0.1 The grade of tailings pond shall be determined according to the total storage capacity and total dam height of tailings pond specified in Table 3.0.1-1; the design grade of tailings pond in each service life shall be determined according to the whole storage capacity and dam height specified in Table 3.0.1-1; and the grade of auxiliary dam of tailings pond shall be determined according to dam height and corresponding storage capacity specified in Table 3.0.1-1. The grade of tailings embankment shall be determined according to the grade of tailings pond specified in Table 3.0.1-2.   Table 3.0.1-1 Grade of tailings pond Grade Whole storage capacity, V (× 106 m3) Dam height, H (m) I V ≥ 500 H≥200 II 100 ≤ V < 500 100 ≤ H < 200 III 10 ≤ V < 100 60 ≤ H < I00 IV 1 ≤ V < 10 30 ≤ H < 60 V V < 1 H < 30 Note: 1 If the indicators of total storage capacity and total dam height are in different grades, the higher grade shall prevail; if the grade difference is more than one grade, the higher grade minus one grade shall prevail. 2 The total dam height of dry tailings pond is the height difference between the highest point on the top surface of tailings dam and the lowest point at the foot of tailings dam; the total dam height is height difference between the top surface of tailings dam and the top axis of starter dam or the original ground where the top axis of tailings collection dam is located, if the foot of tailings dam has a starter dam or tailings collection dam as support; for the wet tailings pond by the upstream embankment method, the total dam height is the height difference between tailings embankment crest and the original ground where the axis of starter dam is located; for the wet tailings pond by the centerline embankment method and the downstream embankment method, the total dame height is the height difference between the tailings embankment crest and the original ground where the axis of dam top is located. 3 Except for the Grade I ponds, when there are cities and towns, industrial and mining enterprises, Grade I railways or expressways in the downstream of a tailings pond, its grade shall be raised by one grade after demonstration. Table 3.0.1-2 Grade of tailings embankment Grade of tailings pond I II III IV V Grade of tailings embankment I II III IV V 3.0.2 The investigation level of tailings embankment shall depend on the grade of tailings embankment and shall meet the following requirements: 1 The investigation level for Grade I to Grade III tailings embankment shall be set as Level A; 2 For the Grade IV and V tailings embankments, if the site situation is complex and there are residential areas, industrial and mining enterprises, bazaars, squares for leisure, fitness and entertainment, railways, highways and other important facilities located within 1 km downstream, the investigation level shall be set as Level A; for Grade IV and V tailings embankments, the investigation level shall be set as Level B; 3 Special investigation level shall be determined based on the actual conditions; 4 The level of site complexity shall be categorized according to those specified in the current national standard GB 50021 Code for investigation of geotechnical engineering. 3.0.3 The investigation level of tailings embankment shall be categorized as operation period investigation, expansion and reconstruction investigation, tailings pond closure investigation and special investigation, and shall meet the following requirements: 1 If Grade III tailing ponds and below are piled up to 1/2-2/3 of the total dam height, Grade II tailings pond is piled up to 1/3~1/2 and 1/2~2/3 of the total dam height, Grade I tailings pond is piled up to 1/3~1/2 and 1/2~2/3 of the total dam height, the operation period investigation shall be carried out every 20-m increase to the dam height after the operation reaches Grade I and above; 2 The tailings pond shall be expanded and reconstructed before the expansion and reconstruction investigation; 3 For tailings ponds that have reached the design final accumulation height or that have not reached the design final accumulation height but have been stopped for use in advance, the tailings pond closure investigation shall be carried out before closing the pond; 4 Special investigation for stoping shall be carried out for tailings embankment that requires stoping of tailings; the special investigation for online monitoring shall be carried out for the tailings embankment without online monitoring system or whose online monitoring system needs to be adjusted; the special investigation for hidden hazards resolving shall be carried out when there are abnormal conditions in the operation of tailings embankment and which influence the safety of tailings pond. 3.0.4 Geotechnical engineering analysis and evaluation of tailings embankment shall include qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the quantitative analysis shall be carried out on the basis of qualitative analysis. 3.0.5 Tailings can be categorized into sandy tailings, silty tailings and clayey tailings depending on particle size, composition and plasticity index. The categorization and designation of tailings shall meet those specified in Table 3.0.5.  

Foreword ii 1 General provisions 2 Terms 3 Basic requirements 4 Geotechnical investigation of tailings embankment 5 Engineering geological mapping and survey 6 Exploration and sampling 7 In-situ tests and laboratory tests 8 Geotechnical engineering analysis 9 Documentation of geotechnical engineering report 10 Inspection and monitoring 11 Hidden hazards resolving Appendix A The task of geotechnical investigation for tailings embankment Explanation of wording in this standard List of quoted standards Addition: Explanation of provisions